Albert M. Rust, Jr.

Obituaries

February 13, 2013

Albert M. Rust, Jr.

Anonymous Zionsville Times Sentinel Wed Feb 13, 2013, 09:36 AM EST

Greensburg

Albert M. Rust, Jr., 95, national champion swimmer, World War II U.S. Navy veteran, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at the Aspen Place Health Campus in Greensburg.

He was born Nov. 22, 1917, the oldest of 11 children, to Albert M. Rust, Sr. and Sadie (McCutcheon) Rust.

Mr. Rust, formerly of Zionsville, swam in the 1936 and 1937 National Swimming Championships. He received All-American recognition for winning first place in the 50-yard freestyle and finishing third in the 100- and 220-yard freestyle. The Jack Schafer Memorial Trophy was retired to Al Rust in 1956. He won this trophy by scoring the highest points in the City Swimming Championships for six consecutive years from 1935 to 1940.

During World War II he was in charge of the naval gun crew aboard the SS Thomas McKean. His ship was sunk by the German submarine, U505. He spent 9-1/2 days in a lifeboat. Mr. Rust was awarded a commendation for carrying an unconscious seaman to safety. The U505 is on permanent exhibition at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. A videotape interview of Al Rust is part of the museum’s historical records.

In 1940 he founded A.M. Rust Landscape, Inc. He was the president of the Indianapolis Landscape Association in 1957. For 11 years his company designed and built a feature garden for the Indianapolis Flower and Patio Show.

Mr. Rust was a member of the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite, the Charles Frank Masonic Lodge No. 760, and the American Legion John Holliday Post No. 186. He belonged to the Indianapolis Landscape Association, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Horticulture Society, the Murat Shrine and the Zionsville Antique Car Club.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty (Clemons) Rust; his son, Ken Rust.

Survivors include daughter, Judy (Frank) Bodwell, Hebron, Ky.; four grandchildren, Scott Walker, Chris Walker and Ali Rust of Indianapolis, and Robin Rust, Carthage; three great-grandchildren, Miles, Madison and Ellie Walker; four sisters and one brother.

A Masonic service was Feb. 12, at the Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home in Greensburg. Interment with military honors were in the South Park Cemetery in Greensburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Murat Shrine Children’s Hospital, 510 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 or to the American Legion Post No. 186, 5868 E. 71st St., Ste. E, Box 186, Indianapolis, IN 46220.

Online condolences may be made at www.popfuneralhome.com.

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