Bennie Rush Whitaker

Bennie Rush Whitaker of Stevensville passed away at his home August 19th, 2012, surrounded by his family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday at 11am, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with Rick Kirby officiating. Friends may visit from 5:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home and Grace of Douglas Nursing Home. Those wishing to share a memory online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com . Rush was born November 7, 1926 in Black Oak, AR to Marshall Lee and Cora Lee (Hill) Whitaker. He attended Caraway High School in Caraway, AR and then joined the United States Navy serving his country in World War II. Rush married the love of his life Marilyn Joyce Hoffman on February 26, 1962. Rush was an active member of his community serving as Past President of Benton Heights Little League, Vice President of the Berrien County Democratic Club, a lifetime member of VFW Post 1137 of Benton Harbor and member of the Benton Harbor Senior Citizens Club. He loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports, hosting and traveling to the annual family reunion fish fry, enjoyed singing and playing the guitar for family and friends, watching westerns on TV and was passionate about all Michigan sports. Rush is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, Sherry (Roy) Knight of Sherman, TX , Carol (Lonnie) Jones of Tom Bean, TX, Debra (Dennis) Crumb of St. Joseph, Jay (Kelli) Whitaker of Benton Harbor and Marshall (Tami) Whitaker of Coloma, MI; grandchildren Donnie and Ryan Knight, Shawn White, Brian Jones, Alexandra and Andy Crumb, Morgan (Kyle Berry), Chase and Shelby Whitaker; and six great grandchildren; brothers Stanley (Tommye) Whitaker of Kalamazoo, MI, and Don (Nancy) Whitaker of Vicksburg, MI; sisters Loretta Kirby of Stevensville, Lefty (Ralph) Russo of Stevensville. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Whit Whitaker and James Whitaker.