Wilbur Eugene Bush

Wilbur Eugene Bush, 96, of Macon, Georgia passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 1:00PM, in the chapel of Hart's Mortuary, 765 Cherry Street. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 12:00PM until 1:00PM at Hart's Mortuary, Cherry Street. Mr. Bush was born on July 20, 1920 in Vienna, Georgia and resided in Macon since 1950. He married Grace Christmas of Vienna, Georgia in November 1945. Before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps he received his Associates Degree from Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, and then became a principal, teacher and basketball coach of a middle high school in a small town in South Georgia. After World War II, he worked in a small community bank in Ashburn, Georgia. When he moved to Macon he attended Mercer University and received his Bachelor's degree in1952. While attending Mercer he worked part-time at First National Bank, which was later to be named Trust Company Bank and now known as SunTrust Bank. After graduating from Mercer, he accepted a full-time job with First National Bank and retired from Trust Company Bank in 1983. He did not like retirement, so nine months later he started working at the Exchange Bank in Milledgeville where he worked for almost another six years. He was also a Charter Member of the Bibb County Exchange Club and a member of the American Legend Post 3. He was also a member of Highland Hills Baptist Church. Mr. Bush served in the Eighth Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1945. After training, he was stationed at RAF Deenethorpe Airfield in England with the 401st Bomb Group and flew 26 combat missions over Germany and occupied territories from February 21, 1945 to April 19, 1945. He was a Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner on a B-17 Bomber. During his service, Staff Sergeant Wilbur E. Bush, who, through his heroic actions on March 3, 1945, as a flight engineer aboard a B-17 with the Eighth Air Force's 615th Bomber Squadron, in service over Chemnitz, Germany, distinguished himself in combat by gallantly risking his own life to safeguard his fellows. When a live bomb became lodged in the aircraft's bomb bay doors, presenting a serious threat to all aboard the aircraft and other aircraft in his squadron, Staff Sergeant Bush imperiled his own life by working single-mindedly for half an hour, braving -45 degree temperatures and lacerating winds at 27,000 feet, to dislodge the armament and ensure the safety of his comrades. Because of Staff Sergeant Bush's intrepid actions, the pilot was able to drop the bomb over unoccupied area in the German countryside, thus preventing unintended casualties, the loss of the aircraft, or harm to the brave service members in his squadron. His selflessness, uncommon courage, and devotion to his crew make Staff Sergeant Bush's actions on that day emblematic of the variety of stalwart courage and resolve that typify those service members from "the greatest generation." The extraordinary heroism that he displayed on March 3, 1945, brings perpetual credit to himself and to our great nation and will survive him in posterity. He is preceded in death by his wife, Grace Christmas Bush; son, Wilbur E. "Gene" Bush, Jr.; son-in-law, Fleming J. Martin, and parents, Lewis E. "Boss" Bush and Annie A. Bush; and four brothers and one sister. Survived by daughter, Janice B. Martin, granddaughter, Amanda M. Blackwell (Nate); grandsons, David Martin (Kelly); Wilbur "Wil" E. Bush, III (Heather); and Eric Bush (Bryn), and nine great-grandchildren. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, 765 Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.

Burial following at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation one hour prior to service.