- Date Of Birth: October 24, 1919
- Date Of Death: January 9, 2015
- State: Illinois
Fred W. Rushing, 95, of Centralia, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Odin Healthcare Center. He was born Oct. 24, 1919, in Carterville, the son of James W. Rushing and Leota (Vaughn) Rushing.
He married Marguerite (Davis) Rushing and she preceded him in death. Survivors include a son, Fred Rushing Jr. and wife Marie of Odin; two daughters, Sandra McGrew and husband Jim and Linda Grist and husband Ed of Odin; six grandchildren, Brent McGrew, Cindy McGrew, Eric Todd Rushing, Levi Scott Rushing, Lisa Rushing, Mitchell Rushing, and Michael Massaro and wife Vicki; one great-grandchild, Brady Mitchell Rushing; a sister-in-law, Eugena Marshall; a niece, Quinnie Hubbell; and a nephew, Kurt Rushing of Springfield.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Rushing was preceded in death by his parents; three grandchildren, Greg McGrew, Michelle Rushing, and Tisha Michelle Rushing; a niece, Bonnie Gasperin; a nephew, Kenneth Rushing; five brothers, Dolph Rushing, Earl Rushing, Jim Rushing, Carl Rushing and Wayne Rushing; and a sister, Bessie. Mr. Rushing moved to Centralia in the early 1940’s from Carterville. He worked for the Seven Up company. He served in the U.S. Army from September 1944 through October 1945. He served in the Pacific during the liberation of the Philippine islands. He returned to Centralia and worked at the Seven Up company until 1946 at which time he went to work for Claude Davis, owner of the Red & White grocery store on North Elm Street in Centralia. In the early 1950s he and his wife Marguerite became the owners of that grocery store. The business was called Fred’s Food Mart.
They operated the store at the Elm Street location until June 1964. The business moved to 216 E. Kerr St. in June 1964 until the time Mr. Rushing retired in late 1989. Fred’s Food Mart was one of the last neighborhood grocery stores and at the time of its closing he still made home deliveries and allowed credit accounts to his customers. Mr. and Mrs. Rushing were affectionately called Mr. and Mrs. Fred by many of their customers. He was in the neighborhood grocery business 43 years and enjoyed his business. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Centralia and he served as a deacon of the church. He was also a member of the VFW Post 2055 and the American Legion Post 446. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends.
