Elizabeth Louise Bush

Elizabeth Louise (Crooks) Bush, 88, Williamsport, passed into the arms of her God on Thursday morning, March 28, 2013, just one day before the Christian celebration of Good Friday. She suffered a major stroke at home in the early morning of Tuesday, March 20 and was taken to the Williamsport Regional Medical Center, where she spent the final week of her life. Her grieving family was blessed by the fact that she rallied several times to converse with each one in an understandable way.

Born in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 21, 1924, she moved to Williamsport with her father and mother, Oliver N. Crooks and Caroline (Murrey) Crooks; and her brother and sister, William and Caroline, all of whom predeceased her. In 1943, she graduated from the Williamsport High School. She went on to graduate from Hood College in 1947, with a degree that qualified her to teach high school English.

However, her future husband, Alvin C. Bush, renewed their acquaintance after he returned from his service with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. That began their 66 year love affair and led to their marriage on June 21, 1947. They built a house on his parents’ Wyno Farms in Muncy Township and she was his constant partner in private and public life. Over the next ten years, they were blessed by the birth of two boys and two girls: Charlie, Cindy, Karen, and Michael. It was the exact family she had hoped for. While her children were developing, Elizabeth served as the den mother of the local Cub Scout Pack and she was elected as president of the Pennsdale PTA. Later on she was active as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts. She also served on the board of directors of the Williamsport Junior League.

Afterward, she became the full-time manager of the dairy and specialty store they opened on their family’s farm after she completed a training course at Penn State. At the same time, her community interests were increasing with service on the YWCA board, the United Fund board, and the board of the Lycoming County Republican Women’s Committee, with additional service as its chaplain.

In succeeding years, she completed training and qualified for her realtor’s license, working at that profession for the next eight years. At the same time, she found time to become the co-founder of Project Impact at the Muncy State Prison, which provided help for the inmates’ children. She served on the board of the Lycoming County Realtors Association, along with its state board. Elizabeth also became a teacher of literacy and an Ombudsman, who protected residents of nursing homes.

Her community service was recognized by a number of awards, including her name, paired with her husband’s, in a star embedded in the floor of the Community Arts Center’s lobby. Her image is also included in the Community Mural across from the Community Arts Center.

Elizabeth enjoyed spending summers at their mountain cottage, which was a point of reunion for the entire family. She was a nature lover and had a remarkable ability to identify birds, flowers, and other wildlife. She was a devoted Christian and lived by her faith. She enjoyed spending time with her bridge-playing friends, reading, and she had a wonderful sense of humor, always making her grandchildren laugh.

Surviving are her husband, Alvin C. Bush; her four children: Charlie (Carmen), Cindy, Karen, and Michael (Tera); a nephew in Texas, Joel Stearns (Kim) and two daughters; nine grandchildren: Tracey, Jacqueline, Laura, Casey, Jesse, Nathaniel (who is predeceased), Rachel, Catherine, Brian, and Madeline; and seven great-grandchildren.

Friends of Elizabeth were invited to her Life Celebration service at noon Monday, April 1, at the Pine Street United Methodist Church, 441 Pine St. Her family received friends from 11 a.m. to noon. Burial service followed at Twin Hills Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, her family will be grateful for contributions made in her name to the Alvin Bush Family Scholarship at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Arrangements are being handled by the James C. Maneval Funeral Home, Ltd., “A Life Celebration Home,” 500 W. Fourth St., Williamsport.

To share your fondest memory of Elizabeth visit www.lifecelebration.com.