Captain Rita Bush (Ret.)

Captain Rita Bush (Ret.) was born September 30, 1958, and passed away on April 21, 2023, following a lengthy illness. Rita was born with a protective spirit and was a big sister to everyone she met. She would give you the shirt off her back, stand up for you against bullies, and boss you around. She championed the downtrodden and came to the aid of anyone in need. She fought through life, overcoming many challenges, which produced within her that fighting spirit to conquer adversity.

Her unique spirit led her to a career as a firefighter and paramedic (retired), becoming the second female to join the Shreveport Fire Department. She had a soft heart for anyone in a crisis and would do all she could to save others. She moved up the ladder to the rank of Captain.

After retirement, Rita became a chef and had the joy of cooking for many people, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She also worked at Krogers.

Rita spent countless hours volunteering and especially enjoyed supporting the firefighter cookoffs, fundraisers, memorials, and all firefighter events. She was an avid reader, scuba diver, archer, hunter, solar light gardener, and world traveler. She was never afraid of new experiences; her only fear – bugs.

Preceding Rita in death were her parents, George and Mildred Bush, and stepbrother, Johnny Prothro.

She is survived by her brother, George Bush, his wife, Wanda, and their children, Ellen and Austin; stepbrothers, Billy Prothro and Jody Bush; half-brother, Larry Bush; the daughter of her heart, Brittany Culbertson and her husband, Dillon; and her firefighter family she held dear to her heart.

Also mourning her loss are Kathy and Jimmy Crouch, Dena Wear, Leanne and Ed Moore, Krista and Dustin Jackson,  and numerous friends and family worldwide, too many to name.

Funeral services for Rita will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd. in Shreveport. A visitation will be held Friday, May 5, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.