Grace "Tudd" Cronce

Grace Cronce Rush, 89, passed away on Friday Dec. 7, 2012 in McMinnville, Tennessee due to the infirmities of old age. She was born on November 14, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alger and Amelia Cronce. 

Grace enlisted in the U.S. Navy "Waves" during World War II and served as a Petty Officer Second Class at Fleet Post Office San Francisco. She was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal for her service as part of our country's "Greatest Generation." 

Following the war she returned to Milwaukee until she joined Trans World Airlines in 1946. She was one of the first classes of TWA stewardesses who were not required to be registered nurses. Grace was based by TWA in Los Angeles, California where she met her future husband, H.J. "Dick" Rush, who was also a Navy veteran of World War II. 

Grace and Dick were married in 1949 and moved to New Jersey where he stationed as a flight crew member for Western Airlines. They transferred to Miami, Fla. in 1951 where they made their home until they moved to Hendersonville, Tenn. in 1963. 

Grace was an active member of the Lutheran Church and was one of the founding members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallatin, Tennessee. Grace was also a member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McMinnville. 

Grace is survived by her husband, Dick; her three children, Douglas of St. Louis, Mo. and his wife Janette Lohman; Stevan of Naples, Fla.; and Gregory of McMinnville, Tenn. and his wife Susan; and her four grandchildren, Brittney, Brie, William and Melanie. 

Funeral services were scheduled to be held on Tuesday Dec. 11, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallatin. Interment will be at Middle Tennessee Veteran Cemetery in Nashville. Visitation will be Monday 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and Tuesday 9 a.m. until time of the service at 10 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. 4083 Yager Road McMinnville, TN. 37110

(source: https://www.lohud.com/article/DN/20121212/GALLATIN03/312120160/Grace-Cronce-Rush)

* "Tudd" is a family nickname and we are not exactly sure how to spell it. My Aunt Mary Kay thinks it could have originally been "Toots" but evolved because of thick accents.