Harold Ray Bush

Harold Ray Bush, 89, of Citra, Florida and formerly of Gallipolis, passed away at 7:05 a.m. Sunday, December 14, 2025, in the E.W. & Lucille Cates Hospice House in Ocala, Florida. Born November 13, 1936, in the Mudsoc Community of Walnut Township in Gallia County he was the son of the late Charles William and Victoria Mahan Bush. Ray was well known throughout Gallipolis and Gallia County for serving 29 years in fire service. Ray served as a Fire Service instructor where he was instrumental in bringing new and innovative dire service training to the Gallipolis Fire Department and neighboring fire departments in Gallia County. He also established the Fire Training Grounds adjacent to the fire station on Chestnut Street, where the first official Fire Prevention K9, Ray's beloved Dalmatian, "Princess" has her final resting place. Ray progressed through the ranks at the Gallipolis Fire Department where he was promoted Fire Chief on January 3, 1984, and held that position through 1992. Ray had also served as Resident Fire Fighter for the city of Gallipolis from 1969 to 1970 and again from 1972-1993. Ray retired from active fire service in 1993. After retiring to Florida, he served as an insurance inspector in Ocala.  Ray was also a certified arson investigator for the State of Ohio Fire Marshal's office. He was one of the first certified emergency medical technicians (EMT) in Gallia County. Ray was a U.S. Army veteran, a member of Post #4464 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member by invitation only of The Forty and Eight, an honor society of American veterans. He was also a Kentucky Colonel.

Ray is survived by his wife, Ida Ann Harmon Bush, his two sons, George Allen Bush and Steven R. Bush, both of Citra, Florida, grandsons, Andrew J. (Samantha) Bush, of Proctorville, Ohio and Zachary R. Bush, of Gulfport, Mississippi, great-grandchildren, Sophia Jean Bush, of Joliet, Louisiana and Zachary Bush Jr., of New Orleans, Louisiana, step-children, James Harmon Jr., of Joliet, Illinois, Estella Rosales, of Silver Springs, Florida, William Franklin (Sylvia) Harmon, of Citra, Florida, Kasey Harmon, of Joliet, Illinois, Phillip Harmon, of Joliet, Illinois and Janell (Allen) Shehan, of Silver Springs, Florida, his sisters, Clarabelle Roach, of Gallipolis and Anna Mae Kroger, of Indian Lake, Ohio, his brothers, Carl (Barbara) Bush, of Kettering, Ohio, Ervin Bush, of Patriot, Ohio and Russell Bush, of Patriot, Ohio. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Walters Bush, on September 1, 2006, infant son, Scott Michael Bush, brothers, Charles Bush, David Bush and infant brother Foster Bush, and a sister, Freda Bush Wheeler.
 

Funeral services will be 12 Noon Saturday, December 20, 2025, in the Cremeens-King Funeral Home. Officiating will be Fire Department Chaplain Bob Hood. Interment will be in the Ridgelawn Cemetery at Mercerville. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Casketbearers will be firefighters from the Gallipolis Fire Department. Memorials may be made in Ray's memory to the Gallipolis Fire Department, 2018 Chestnut Street, Gallipolis, OH  45631.

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