Paul L. Rushing Sr.
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Paul L. Rushing Sr., 74, a resident of rural Vienna and a former resident of the Glendale community in Pope County, passed away at 12:44 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2010, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky.
Paul was born June 5, 1935, in Herrin. He was the son of Lee Vander Rushing and Mable (Broadway) Rushing.
Paul was united in marriage to Ethel Mae Clardy on May 28, 1957, in Golconda. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Kenneth Eugene Rushing and his wife Jennifer of Harrisburg; three grandchildren, Paula Sue Atherton, Dillon Wade Rushing and Colton Wolaver; three great-grandchildren, Paula Beth Lyding, Austin Michael Lee Atherton and Alexis Lee Atherton; two sisters, Thelma Lee Sebastian of Pensacola, Fla. and Emmalean Ferris of Hannibal, Mo.; a half-brother, Herbert Rushing of Grass Valley, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by: a son, Paul Lee Rushing on Aug. 3, 2009; a half-brother, Edgar "Huck" Rushing; and two half-sisters.
Paul attended the Crainville Public School and Marion High School. Paul worked as a crane operator in a Steel Mill in Hammond, Ind. He then worked for two years at the Elgin State Hospital and then for 14 years as a lube technician for the Chevrolet dealership in Elgin.
In 1972, Paul and his family returned to Southern Illinois. He then worked as a construction laborer until his retirement in 1988. Paul was a member of the Laborer's International Union of North America No. 773.
Paul was a devoted member of the Cedar Grove Social Brethren Church near Simpson, where he had served as the youth Sunday School teacher and was the church treasurer. He also served as the treasurer of the Cedar Grove Cemetery Board.
Paul loved people. He was an outstanding husband and father and dearly loved spending time with his family. He also had a love for music and singing.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, May 20, 2010, at the Cedar Grove Social Brethren Church in Pope County. Burial will be in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Jerry Wells will officiate. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the Cedar Grove Social Brethren Church.
Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to the Cedar Grove Cemetery, c/o Ethel Mae Rushing, 110 Missy Lane, Vienna, Ill. 62995.
To leave an online message of condolence for the family, please visit the Internet site www.baileyfh.com