Marilyn Ruth Bush, mother and grandmother to many, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2018. She was 84 years old. Marilyn was born October 14, 1933 in Sheldon, Iowa to Hiram and Pearl Huffman. The daughter of Pentecostal minister, the family moved often, and Marilyn could be found singing or playing the piano at church on Sundays and Wednesday nights. After her mother passed away at a young age, Marilyn moved in with an elderly woman as her caregiver while finishing high school in Des Moines, Iowa. She then enrolled in business support school where she graduated and became an executive secretary and worked until she married her husband of 62 years, Albert E. Bush. They were married on January 30, 1953. Soon after they married the couple moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to join the Oral Roberts ministry. Marilyn continued to work as an executive secretary for Utica National Bank and continued working after the birth of both her daughters, Carol and Marta.
Marilyn was a creative person with a sense of community. During her working career she enjoyed many successes. She was the Public Relations Director for the River Parks Authority and helped create and promote the Pedestrian Bridge and trail system. In 1977 she left the River Parks to become the Promotion Manager of Woodland Hills Mall and eventually Mall Manager. Her success then took her to Oklahoma City where she was the construction manager and then mall manager for Quail Springs Mall. She was a great promoter and community volunteer. She offered her time to many projects and fundraisers including Arts and Humanities Council's Kanchi, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet, Youth Services of Tulsa, Tulsa Mental Health, Children's Medical Center, First Presbyterian Church and many more.
Marilyn's greatest gift to the community and to her family and friends was her flair for entertaining and lending a helping hand wherever needed. She hosted many events for ORU's World Action Singers and International Students making them feel at home while they were away from home. Even though she worked full time, she volunteered as a girl scout leader in the 1960's and every PTA for the schools her daughters attended. She continued her gift of service by working just as hard for her granddaughter's school fundraisers and never missed a recital or ball game. Marilyn had a heart of gold and felt another person's success in whatever endeavor was surely worthy a celebration with all the fanfare. She was a tough competitor in everything she worked on, said it like it was and yet loved unconditionally. She will be missed at the next girl's night out.
She is survived by her daughters Carol Marie Bush, husband Jeff Harrison and granddaughters Moriah and Nicole Vanderburg; Marta Lynn Bush (Chicago), husband Frank Hudson and grandchildren Brian, Kyle and Sarah and great granddaughter Penny Lane; sisters Marjean Tinoco of Ventura, California and Barbara Marshall of Denver, Colorado; many nieces and nephews and god children.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursday October 18 at 3 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Mental Health Association of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Methodist Manor Employee Fund. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com