Ralph Harley Rush

Ralph Harley Rush, 81, of Kearney, Missouri, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born on February 16, 1945, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Ralph was raised by his loving mother, Edna Mae (Robertson) Holt, alongside four brothers and two sisters in Sugar Grove, Arkansas. He grew up hearing about God’s love and committed his life to following Him with all his heart.

At the age of twenty, Ralph met Lovina Kay Simmons, who became the love of his life for fifty-nine years. Together they raised two daughters, Christina and Victoria, teaching them to follow God with the same devotion they had been given. Ralph loved his family fiercely and found deep joy in serving his church family in many capacities over the years. He and Lovina shared a passion for travel, visiting countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, both for pleasure and to support their children. They never missed a grandchild’s graduation, even when most studied abroad. Ralph was known for his remarkable ability to fix, move, or make anything work. He also cherished fishing, boating, and time spent with those he loved.

Ralph worked for the railroad for twenty-seven years and then spent fourteen years with Commerce Bank. In retirement, he and Lovina continued traveling and volunteered for several years with Christian camps and disaster relief projects, where his skill with a chainsaw proved especially valuable.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Mae (Robertson) Holt; stepfather, Edgar Holt; sister, Nancy (Rush) Weaver; and son-in-law, Charles Stewart Beaty. Ralph is survived by his wife, Lovina Kay (Simmons) Rush; sister, Diana Rush Wilkins (Roger); brothers, Jim Rush (Carol), Floyd Parnell (Sandy), and Edgar Holt (Norma); brother-in-law, Woodrow Weaver; daughters, Christina Rush Olson (Daniel) and Victoria Rush Dugan (Rodney); grandchildren, Amanda Beaty Pentecost (Josh), Philip Olson, Paul Olson (Danielle), Alexandre Beaty (Cheyenne), Mary Ann Olson Duket (Jeremy), Ashleigh Beaty, Julia Olson Zozulia (Roman), Lauryn Reid Rush (Weston), Abigail Beaty, Lindsay Reid, and Luke Olson; five great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.