Charles Harry Bush

Charles Harry Bush, 100, peacefully passed away on May 25 2025, at Cape May, Wilmington, Ohio.

 He was born April 1, 1925, in Washington Court House, Ohio, to parents Harry McKillip Bush and Pauline Williams Bush. Charles's family moved to Clarksville, Ohio, where his father opened a general store. 

After graduating from Clarksville High School in 1943, Charles enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky in September. He trained in various places including St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri, Scott Field, IL, which included radio school and Boca Raton, FL, for radar training. In 1945 he was one of 5000 soldiers deployed on the General Warren P. Richardson Coast Guard troop ship to Naples, Italy. He was stationed in several bases in Italy before making two flights to Kalagenfurt, Austria, to bring out British POWs who had been detained in German concentration camps. After Italy, his longest assignment was in the Air Transport Command as a radar operator in flying regular routes to the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. After the war and back in the USA at Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia, he was discharged March 14, 1946, as a sergeant with the American Service Medal, EAME (European-Africa-Middle East) Theater Ribbon with two stars, and the Victory Medal.

During college, Charles had obtained his pilot's license and was interested in pursuing his future wife, Mary Louise Statler. He flew his plane over the Statler farmstead in Clarksville and tossed a parachute out the window with a note attached: If you want to go on a date Saturday, go stand by the gate….and she stood by the gate!

Charles graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in business in 1950. In the same year he married Mary Louise, and they moved to Wilmington. He opened Bush's TV across from the drive-in theater in 1953 and specialized in sales and service. In 1967 he became the owner of Sight and Sound located downtown.

Charles maintained his love of adventure, and his wife said the love of his life was flying! He and Mary Lou traveled the world, but his favorite adventures were his many trips in his Cessna, where he would fly across the country, Canada, Jamaica, and into obscure areas of Mexico. When he returned home, he always related exciting stories of small sketchy foreign airports, challenging weather, and low fuel issues. A few of his favorite flying thrill seekers included Howard Hiatt, Milton Farquhar, Jordan Haines, and childhood buddy, Bill Greathouse. He loved flying low over his children's homes, watching family members signaling to him below. He continued flying into his 80s when he finally sold his plane.

After retiring, he and Mary Lou loved being snowbirds in Homestead and Naples, Fl. He was active in bocce, tennis, and shuffleboard, where the Marco Shores shuffleboard courts were dedicated to him for his hard work, multiple championships, and love of the game.

Charles was a long-time member of Wilmington United Methodist Church, Rotary, American Legion, AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association).

He is survived by three daughters, Sandi (Jim) Clawson of Jeffersonville, Susan Neuhart of Lexington, Ky, and Sharon Eberle of Dublin; grandchildren, Dr. Jackie (Shawn) Robinson, South Solon, Dr. James Clawson, Chicago, Jomi (Shaun) Goodbar, Wilmington, Justin (Amanda) Neuhart, Lexington, Nate Eberle, Phoenix, and Kristen Zaremba, Ostrander; great-grandchildren, Colby and  Corrine Goodbar, Silas and Levi Neuhart, and Jameson Watts; nieces, Patti Statler (Mike) Jacobs, Barb Statler (Todd) Holmes, and Brenda Statler (Rich) Scholz; as well as many cousins.

Preceding him in death were Mary Lou, his wife of 67 years (2017); granddaughter, Jennifer Neuhart; son-in-law, Jim Eberle; and his parents. Charles's father, Harry, also lived to be 100.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South Street, Wilmington, Ohio.  A funeral service with Rev. Mary Banner officiating will begin at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Clarksville Cemetery.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Cape May and Community Care Hospice. Contributions in Charles’ memory for scholarships may be made to the Wilmington Noon Rotary Club, P.O. Box 202, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.

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