James "Jay" Rusk

James (Jay) Walter Rusk, 97, of Royal Center, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2021 in the house that he built.

Born February 17, 1923 in Kokomo, IN, James was the son of the late John E. and Lucy (Long) Rusk.

Jay was a 1941 graduate of Twelve Mile High School, where he enjoyed playing basketball. After high school, Jay joined the Army-Airforce in 1942 and served as a gunner on a P-61 Black Widow on the Island of Saipan. Known as “Whitey”, he pitched softball in the service league. IN 1945, Jay was honorably discharged and returned home to Indiana.

On May 13, 1947, Jay married Joyce E. Myers, they soon moved to a farm where they built a home to raise their three sons. When Jay wasn’t farming, he enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, and was a “pretty good” horseshoe player. In later years, he took to the slower sport of playing checkers with his grandsons. Jay enjoyed traveling around the United States from Alaska to Florida, enjoying Florida most in the winter so he could still golf.

Jay was a member of Shiloh Christian Church where he served as Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. In his later years, Jay enjoyed mission trips to Haiti, Brazil, Chili, Ecuador, Honduras, Guyana, and Romania.

He is survived by his sons, Rick C. Rusk (Terri Droulos) of Oceanside, CA; Thomas H. (Brenda) Rusk, Royal Center; daughter-in-law, Beverly Rusk, Fort Wayne; 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce E. Rusk; one son, Robert J. Rusk; three brothers and great grandson, Porter Lee Rusk.

A private family ceremony will be held for the family at Gundrum Funeral Home at 12:30 pm Saturday January 9, 2021, with Pastor Dirk Raderstorf officiating. The service will be live streamed for the public to view.

Memorial contributions may be made to Real Hope for Haiti, 15215 Endeavor Dr., Noblesville, IN 46060

You may sign the guest book and send online condolences to the family at www.gundrumcares.com