Obituary of Patricia Rush

Patricia Allen Rush, 88, of Matthews, North Carolina, passed away April 4, 2022. Born in Charlotte on January 12, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Paul Bennett Allen and Gladys Biggers Allen.

Pat grew up in Charlotte and attended Central High School. At 16, she met her husband of 58 years, Robert Franklin Rush, marrying in 1955.

Following Bob’s Army deployment to Korea, Bob and Pat lived in Winston-Salem, where he attended law school at Wake Forest University, graduating in 1960. After practicing law for 32-years, Bob became a gentleman farmer, buying a 400-acre farm in Mount Pleasant, building a home, raising cattle, and growing vegetables. While Pat enjoyed this phase of their marriage as a farmer's wife, she “burned up the road” to Charlotte to visit her sisters and friends.

Pat’s hobbies included collecting antiques, playing bridge, traveling, shopping, and cooking. Pat was well known as our family's "chocolate chip" lady—her cookies were her nieces' and nephews' favorite at family gatherings.

Pat was active in the Charity League, where she made many life-long friends. She was also an active bridge player with a beloved group of ladies, who supported one another in life's ups and downs. Central High alumni events were among Pat’s favorite activities. Shortly before Bob's passing, Pat moved to Matthews Glen (formerly Plantation Estates), where she made even more friends. She often told her sisters that moving to Matthews Glen was like being in high school again.

Pat treasured her many friendships throughout her life. She will always be remembered for her quick wit, kind heart, sparkling blue eyes, and southern charm.

Pat is survived by her sisters Jacqueline "Jackie" Allen Brown Miller and her husband, Ken, of Charlotte, and Eleanor Allen Helms and her husband, Parks, of Charlotte; brother-in-law William "Bill" Harold Rush and his wife, Winni, of Agoura Hills, CA; and 18 nieces and nephews.  

Pat was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Paul B. Allen; sister, Margaret Allen Young; brothers-in law Craig Brown, Charles Young, and Jesse Rush; sisters-in-law Gwen Allen, Anne Rush Paul, and Dorothy Rush; and nephew Grant Helms.   

Pat's family extends their appreciation to her doctors—Dr. Danny Honeycutt, Dr. Jonathan McKinsey, and Dr. Sanjay S. Iyer—for the wonderful care and support they provided Pat. The family owes heartfelt thanks to Pat's squad of angels—Matthews Glen’s Willowbrooke Court nursing staff and the staff of Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Division—who provided Pat loving care during her battle with Parkinson's Disease.

A Celebration of Pat's Life will be held on Saturday, April 23, at 2 PM at the Magnolia Chapel, Matthews Glen, 733 Pavilion View Drive, Matthews, NC. Pat's family will greet friends after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Acts Legacy Foundation, 375 Morris Road, PO Box 90, West Point, PA 19486-9973, Memo line on check: Matthews Glen Spiritual Life Fund or Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, PO Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247.

Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the Tribute Wall provided.