06/29/2017

Obituary for Barbara L. Dierkes Rush

Retired Funeral Director and Co-owner of Rush Funeral Homes, Inc.

Barbara L. Dierkes Rush, age 69, of Powhatan Point, OH, formerly of Dunkirk, NY, Moundsville, WV, and Clarington, OH died Monday, June 26, 2017 in Wheeling Hospital Medical Park.

She was born October 29, 1947 in Glen Dale, WV the daughter of the late Walter and June Peabody Dierkes.

She attended first grade in Clarington, moved to Dunkirk in 1954, and attended school in NY until 1963 when she moved to Moundsville and graduated in 1965 from Moundsville High School. She then attended West Liberty State College and WV Northern Community College where she received her State of OH Funeral Director’s License in 1991.

Barbara and her late husband, Vernon “Butch” Rush owned and operated Rush Funeral Homes, Inc. of Clarington and Sardis, OH for many years; as well as, owner and operator of the Hazel Daisy Inn in Clarington from 1995 to 1999. She was formerly employed by North American Coal Corporation’s Central Division and Ohio Valley Coal Company/Murray Energy, Powhatan Point as an Executive Secretary, and Public Relations Coordinator.

She was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Clarington; Wheeling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Ohio Funeral Directors Association; Alpha Tau Gamma/Delta Zeta Society; Women’s Club of Wheeling; and was a founding member and current Director of the Ohio Valley River Museum in Clarington.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Timothy A. Rush. Survivors include a brother, F. Mark Dierkes of Powhatan Point; a sister, Marcia L. Cochran of Columbus, OH; nieces, Alicia (Shane) Theisen of Columbus, OH, Brittany Cochran of Charlotte, NC, Joan Reid (Brent) Lutz of North Bend, WA and their sons, Reid and Justin; nephews, Cody Dierkes of Powhatan Point, and Douglas C. (Ann Francis) Reid and their son, Kian of Wenatchee, WA; and a sister-in-law, Mary Alice Rush Reid of Tucson, AZ.

Family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Grisell Funeral Home, 125 Clarinda Dr., Clarington where funeral services will be held Friday at 11am with Rev. Terry Pringle officiating.
Interment in Clarington Cemetery, Clarington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tim Rush Memorial, Mr. River Award, c/o First National Bank, PO Box 147, Powhatan Point, OH 43942 or Ohio Valley River Museum, 112 Ferry St., Clarington, OH 43915.