James W. Brush: Husband, Father, Grandad, Friend

OBITUARY

James Whitney Brush, 98, a resident of Mills River, NC and Wayne, Maine passed away peacefully  on Saturday June 24 after a brief illness.  James was born on November 21, 1924, in Washington, D. C., son of Warren David Brush and Lola Roberta (Huffman), brother to his older sister Mary.  Whitney, as he was known until he entered the Army, grew up in Chevy Chase, MD.  He attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School where people noticed him for his cultured voice and admired him for his amiability.  He participated in radio club, stamp club, and amateur radio club.  Hs chosen career as a senior was electrical engineering.  He graduated in June 1942 at the age of 17 with plans to attend MIT in the fall.

While enrolled in Massachusetts  Institute of Technology, he enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve Corps in December 1942, in hopes of qualifying for student deferment.  In March 1943, at the age of 18, he was called to active duty and sent to Fort Wheeler, GA for 3 months of basic training in the Infantry. In June he was sent to the Citadel in Charleston, SC as part of STAR - Specialized Training and Replacement Unit. A month later he reported to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and was part of ASTP - Army Specialized Training Program, beginning at level 2.  Every 6 months he entered another level and more training.  He was, after 18 months, one of seven individuals from the original 300 to be sent to Los Alamos, NM to work on what is now known as the Manhattan Project.  His work at in the electronics laboratory in the Special Engineer Detachment as a tech Sergeant 4th grade from January 1945 to February 1946. In July 1945, he witnessed the first testing of the Atomic Bomb in Alamogordo (code name"Trinity"), Southern New Mexico.  He received a certificate of recognition on August 6, 1945 from the War Department for work essential to the production of the Atomic Bomb, as well as a reference letter dated October 1, 1945 from the director of the project, J. Robert Oppenheimer.  After his honorable discharge from the Army in February 1946, he returned to MIT, where he was a member of Phi Beta Epsilon, to complete his degree as Electronic Engineer. James then spent his career working for the Department of the Navy as a technical manager at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington D.C., overseeing electronic equipment on surface combatants.

Since early childhood James loved spending summer on Androscoggin Lake.  After World War II, he and his father, Warren, helped to build a camp WoodWinds, on Androscoggin Lake on the Old Town Farm  Road (now known as Perkins' Beach Road).  He married Penelope Joyce Stevenson on May 21, 1949, in the St. Mary's Chapel, Washington, D.C.  They spent their honeymoon at the camp on Androscoggin Lake.  Jim and Penny raised three children in Rockville, MD: Patricia Ann, Charles Edward, and Joseph Thomas.

He took avid pictures on the many trips he had taken with his family, which accounts for his many slides.  He enjoyed his vegetable garden and being outdoors.  Jim and Penny celebrated 28 years of marriage until her passing in May 1977.

On December 27, 1980, he married Evelyn Price Murray.  They had one child, Mary Beth, and moved to Mills River, NC after her birth.  They had 42 years of marriage together before his passing.

Jim was active in his church.  He and his wife, Evie, were founding members of The Holy Family Episcopal Church in Mills River, NC. Jim also was involved in the Blue Ridge Chapter of The National Society of Sons of the American Revolution for 25 years.  He held positions in several offices: Acting Chairman, Secretary, Registrar, Genealogist, Historian, and Post President.  In addition, he received several awards from the NSSAR Blue Ridge chapter.  Jim was also involved in the Western Colony of the Mayflower Society in NC serving as treasurer.

Jim was blessed with an inquisitive mind and a keen intellect.  Even at the age of 96 James enjoyed taking classes such as Einstein's Theory of Relativity and Quantum Physics.  When in Maine, he enjoyed attending The Theater of Monmouth, worshipping at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, going to the coast for lobster, time with friends around the lake, swimming or wading in Androscoggin Lake, sitting on the camp porch watching sunsets or doing genealogy,  or going down to the lake for a campfire.

His friends knew James as someone with a generous spirit and a loving heart, and an interesting conversationalist who was always up to date on current events and technology.

Whether it was Dad, Grandad, or Grandpa, he was proud of the accomplishments of his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren.  He is survived by his wife, Evie Brush, his daughter Tricia Thompson and son-in-law Charlie of Moorefield, WV; Tricia's sons Tim Perando and Chris Perando and his wife, Jen, and their children, Alyssa and Austin; his son Charlie Brush and daughter-in-law Kathy of Monmouth and Wayne, Maine and their sons, Brian Brush and Laurel Anderson, James Brush and Rose Harvey, and Stephen Brush and his wife, Allison; his son Joe  Brush and daughter-in-law Pam of Martinsburg, WV; and daughter Mary Beth Drake of Mills River, NC and her children, Emilie and Kannon.

Jim also leaves behind four step-children.

A committal service was held at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family in Mills River, NC on July 15th. 

A memorial service will be held on August 19th at 11 a.m. at  St. Andrew's Episcopal Church,  9 Turkey Lane, Winthrop, Maine  

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:

Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas (VHMC)

 21 East Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712

with a memo "In Memory of James W. Brush"