Carolyn Josephine Weiss Bush went to her final home on September 15, 2023, at the age of 82. She is now free of a body broken by Parkinson’s Disease. She described Parkinson’s Disease as “a series of losses,” and her final years on this earth were clear evidence of that.
Carolyn was the youngest of 4 children born to George Christian and Olga Holmberg Weiss. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 13, 1941. Carolyn was characterized as sweet, loving, kind and joyful to all who knew her.
Carolyn met the love of her life, Richard Bush, on a blind date when she was in high school. After she completed her first year of college, she and Richard were married on June 13, 1961, and Carolyn began her life as a minister’s
wife: she gave birth a year later to their first child, Candy. Three other children followed
in the next five years: Cindy, Karen, and Richard Dean.
Many things shaped Carolyn’s life, the first was when she met Richard Bush. They
served in ministry alongside one another with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for
58 years. Richard was her stalwart anchor, spiritual leader, and champion. Carolyn
introduced Richard to the joy of noticing and experiencing beauty, both in their home
and in the beautiful created world around them. She supported their ministry through
her gift of warm hospitality in their home. She also worked in children’s ministries and in
mentoring young mothers; she wrote articles in the Alliance Life Magazine, and often
edited her husband’s work.
Another significant event was the birth of their second child, Cindy, who came into this
world with a broken body and mind. Throughout her lifetime, Carolyn grieved her small
broken Cindy, who still lives but has never walked or talked.
Before Carolyn met Richard, her love of music was expressed through her violin playing
and singing in the Back to the Bible Broadcast trio and youth choir. Her love of music
was further expressed in her participation in many church choirs and community choral
groups. Later in life she sang with the Jubilate Chorale near her community in
Mansfield, Massachusetts. One of the gifts Richard gave her in their later life together
was a subscription to the Boston Symphony, where they enjoyed many date nights
together.
Among her many talents was her crafting of words. She worked over the years as an
editor in the correspondence department at Focus on the Family, and she assisted the
C&MA in the writing and editing of their history. In addition, she edited, and ghost wrote
a variety of written work with fellow ministry workers.
Carolyn is survived by her children—Steve and Candy (Bush) Anderson, Cindy Bush,
Sam and Karen (Bush) Walker, and Richard Dean and Andrea Bush. She leaves
behind 12 grandchildren—Stephen, Benjamin, Michael and Erika, and Rachel
Anderson, Jonathan, Daniel and Anna Walker, TJ and Stephanie (Walker) Mullen,
Cindy, Joshua, Kylee and Braeden Bush. In addition, she leaves behind 3 great
grandchildren—Vinny Bush, Amelia Anderson, and Eliza Mullen. Carolyn is survived by
one sibling—Marilyn Dailey.
Carolyn was always known for her tea parties, so to honor and remember her life, we
will be holding “Carolyn’s Tea Party” on October 28, 2023, at the home of Karen and
Sam Walker, 64 Bird Rd, Mansfield, Massachusetts from 3-5pm.
In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made to the Richard Bush Renewal Center.
Donations can be made through the website, https://www.richardbushrenewalcenter.com/
While we have attempted to notify as many people as possible, please feel free to
forward this to others who would want to know of Carolyn’s passing. She greatly
impacted many lives and we want to honor her memory by communicating as fully as
possible to those whose stories crossed paths with Carolyn’s.
Carolyn will be greatly missed as a Mom, Nana, friend, music lover, creator of beauty,
and joyful human being. Her absence leaves a gaping hole in the lives of those who
knew her.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com
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