Kenneth L. Bush

March 25, 1906 - July 12, 1989

Onondaga County Legislator Kenneth L Bush Sr., 83, died Wednesday, July 12. He had lived all his life in Jordan and his calling hours were held in the house where he was born. He had been honored many times for his work in the community. Mr. Bush was a faithful member of numerous local organizations and had been a Jordan fireman for 63 years. Members of the Jordan Fire Dept. served as pallbearers at his funeral, as he had wished. He was a member of the Jordan Library Assn. for more than 40 years and was deeply interested in local history. Mr. Bush had been active in Republican politics and community affairs for many years, and was known as the dean of the County Legislature by his colleagues. He maintained an active schedule, rarely missing a meeting or committee session. During his years in the county legislature, he had represented much of western Onondaga County and his district at the time of his death included all of the towns of Elbridge and Van Buren and a small portion of Camillus. He was first appointed and then elected supervisor of the Town of Elbridge in 1959 at a time when supervisors also represented their towns or wards on the county's Board of Supervisors. He served in that capacity through 1967 when the county legislature was formed. From 1968 to 1973, he served as an Elbridge town supervisor. He was elected to the county legislature in 1973 and was planning to campaign for reelection when he suffered a stroke on July 6. Mr. Bush had spent much of his life serving the community and helping update the services available to his neighbors. When he helped dedicate the Jordan sewer treatment plant in Jordan in 1983, Mr. Bush recalled the changes in the area. "I've seen the operation of the Erie Canal, the coming of trolley and train service, and the installation of water and gas lines in the village. The water pollution control plant is an important event in the annals of Jordan," he said. If there was an activity involving his constituents or his friends, Mr. Bush could be counted on to attend. At parades, such as the many held this year for Memorial Day, he rode in various convertibles and personally greeted many of those who lined the sidewalks. This year, Mr. Bush rode in the Camillus, Elbridge and Jordan parades on Monday and the Baldwinsville parade on the traditional May 31 date. Mr. Bush attended Jordan High School and was a 1926 graduate of Cazenovia Seminary. While at Cazenovia, he was involved with sports and school organizations. It was at Cazenovia that he first became involved with politics when he joined the Young Republicans in 1926. Mr. Bush graduated in 1927 from Cincinnati College of Embalming in Ohio and joined his father, Barton L. Bush, in the operation of a furniture store and funeral home in Jordan. The business later became B. L. Bush and Sons Funeral Home, which now has establishments in Jordan, Elbridge, Skaneateles and Camillus. Mr. Bush was a 63-year member of the Jordan Fire Dept. and had been recognized for his tenure with the department. He served as chief for about 10 years and assistant chief for 15. He was a member and past president of the Onondaga County Volunteer Firemen's Assn. and a member of the Northern Central Firemen's Assn. He was a member and past president of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Jordan Community Council, Jordan Fish and Game Club, the Cross Lake Boat Club as well as numerous service clubs and trade associations. Mr. Bush was a 60-year member and past master of Jordan Lodge F and AM, and a member of the Charles H. Piatt Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, the Scottish Rite Bodies. Mr. Bush was the oldest living potentate of Tigris Shrine Temple. Mr. Bush was a member of the Onondaga County Funeral Directors Assn., Syracuse Elks Lodge, the Methodist Men's Club, the Jordan-Elbridge Lions Club, the Jordan Historical Society and the Onondaga Historical Assn. Mr. Bush was a charter member and past commodore of the Fair Haven Yacht Club. He also had been active with the Boy Scouts. During his years of public service, Mr. Bush received Distinguished Citizen awards from the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elbridge Grange and the Elbridge Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bush was honored last year by the Nine Mile Republican Club for his contributions to the community and received the Onondaga Community College Distinguished Citizen Award on May 9. When he was younger, he played and managed baseball teams in Jordan and Camillus in the former Syracuse Post- Standard League. His wife, the former Jane Clements, died in September 1984. Surviving are three sons, State Assemblyman William E. Bush of Camillus; Frederick A. Bush of Jordan, former counsel to the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority, and Kenneth L. Bush Jr., also of Jordan; a brother, B. Keith Bush of Jordan; a sister, Rhoda Holt of Jordan; 14 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday, July 15 at the Jordan United Methodist Church with the Rev. Stanley Tanner and the Rev. Joseph H. Duncan officiating. County Executive Nicholas Pirro returned from an out-of-state trip to read the 23rd Psalm at the service. Private burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Jordan. Contributions may-be made to Bramley Free Library, the Jordan Fire Dept. Ambulance Fund or the Jordan Masonic Lodge Building Fund.