Obituary for Iris Bush
Iris Chewning Bush, 97, “went on to her greater reward,” as she used to say, on Oct. 1, 2022. She was a lifelong resident of Roanoke, a retiree from General Electric and a member of Williamson Road Church of the Brethren.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Nelson H. “Buddy” Bush; her parents, Owen and Grace Kendrick Chewning; a sister, Mildred Virginia Chewning; and many beloved friends and relatives. She is survived by her only child, Julie Young, and son-in-law, Michael, of Midlothian; her cherished grandchildren, Lauren Marshall and Nicholas Young of Midlothian; a great-granddaughter, Ivy Juliet Marshall of Moseley; and her granddog, Smokey. She was blessed with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, including her devoted cousins Lisa Saunders Litz of Salem and Jessie Franklin Combs of Roanoke, and her only “son,” nephew Glenn “Chuck” Benson of Roanoke.
Iris was a graduate of Jefferson High School, where she excelled in home economics, choir and theater. She carried her love of homemaking throughout her life – known for baking skills that produced delicious cakes, pies and biscuits for every occasion or no occasion at all. She kept a stash of cakes in her freezer for last-minute events, from funeral lunches to one of her frequent trips to Richmond to see her family. She was an accomplished artist who gifted beautiful hand-painted pieces of china, porcelain and bisque to relatives and friends. Sewing, needlepoint, crafting, reading, and watching sports on TV or attending in person were among her favorite hobbies. Her addictions included coffee, hair and nail appointments, and clothes, purses, shoes and jewelry – closets full of what she called “retail therapy.”
Iris was a lifelong Democrat, a fanatic supporter of the Virginia Cavaliers, a caring friend, a generous neighbor, a fast driver, an animal lover and a voracious sender of greeting cards. She loved to travel, from Hawaii to Alaska, from Niagara Falls to numerous Caribbean islands. She loved cruises, summer trips to Myrtle Beach, fall journeys to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, snowbird stays in Florida, and family adventures in Disney World and Disneyland.
Her sense of humor and total lack of an edit button will be missed.
Per Iris’s wishes, no viewing will be held. A memorial service will take place Friday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. at Oakey’s North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, with Iris’s nephew, Rev. Patrick Starkey, officiating. Interment will be private. The family would appreciate gifts to Williamson Road Church of the Brethren, 3110 Pioneer Road N.W., Roanoke, VA 24012. Thank you to Intrepid Hospice for providing comfort, care and compassion to Iris and her family.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Nelson H. “Buddy” Bush; her parents, Owen and Grace Kendrick Chewning; a sister, Mildred Virginia Chewning; and many beloved friends and relatives. She is survived by her only child, Julie Young, and son-in-law, Michael, of Midlothian; her cherished grandchildren, Lauren Marshall and Nicholas Young of Midlothian; a great-granddaughter, Ivy Juliet Marshall of Moseley; and her granddog, Smokey. She was blessed with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, including her devoted cousins Lisa Saunders Litz of Salem and Jessie Franklin Combs of Roanoke, and her only “son,” nephew Glenn “Chuck” Benson of Roanoke.
Iris was a graduate of Jefferson High School, where she excelled in home economics, choir and theater. She carried her love of homemaking throughout her life – known for baking skills that produced delicious cakes, pies and biscuits for every occasion or no occasion at all. She kept a stash of cakes in her freezer for last-minute events, from funeral lunches to one of her frequent trips to Richmond to see her family. She was an accomplished artist who gifted beautiful hand-painted pieces of china, porcelain and bisque to relatives and friends. Sewing, needlepoint, crafting, reading, and watching sports on TV or attending in person were among her favorite hobbies. Her addictions included coffee, hair and nail appointments, and clothes, purses, shoes and jewelry – closets full of what she called “retail therapy.”
Iris was a lifelong Democrat, a fanatic supporter of the Virginia Cavaliers, a caring friend, a generous neighbor, a fast driver, an animal lover and a voracious sender of greeting cards. She loved to travel, from Hawaii to Alaska, from Niagara Falls to numerous Caribbean islands. She loved cruises, summer trips to Myrtle Beach, fall journeys to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, snowbird stays in Florida, and family adventures in Disney World and Disneyland.
Her sense of humor and total lack of an edit button will be missed.
Per Iris’s wishes, no viewing will be held. A memorial service will take place Friday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. at Oakey’s North Chapel, 6732 Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, with Iris’s nephew, Rev. Patrick Starkey, officiating. Interment will be private. The family would appreciate gifts to Williamson Road Church of the Brethren, 3110 Pioneer Road N.W., Roanoke, VA 24012. Thank you to Intrepid Hospice for providing comfort, care and compassion to Iris and her family.