Col. William Earl Bush, Jr., 83, died Thursday August 26, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida. Bill was born August 8, 1938, in Cadiz, Kentucky, to the late William and Dorothy Bush. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University where he received his Master's Degree in Counseling.

Bill was a US Army veteran retiring as a Bird-Colonel after serving 30 years. He did two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following his discharge from the Army, Bill worked for many years and retired from Calusa Harbor Senior Living in Fort Myers.

Surviving are: his wife, Gloria Ann Sheffield of Avon Park, Fl.; three sons, William Earl Bush of Manchester, TN, Thomas Nixon Bush of Red Boiling Springs, TN and John Chumbley Bush of Villa Rica, GA; two step-daughters, Vicky Lynn Droit of Gainesville, FL and Lisa Oliveira of Fort Myers, FL; a brother, Whitson Haley Bush of Montana; fourteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Bill's life with Military Honors will be held at 11:30 am , Friday, October 1, 2021at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd 72, Sarasota, FL.