Lonnie Ray Rush

Lonnie Ray Rush, 92, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2024, surrounded by his family.

A native of Buncombe Co., Lonnie was a son of the late Lonnie G. and Willa Mae Massie Rush. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Woody Rush, who passed on July 1, 2024.

Mr. Rush proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was also a longtime member of Brown’s View Church, in Candler. In his younger years, Lonnie was a race car driver at McCormick Field, in Asheville, and was an avid NASCAR and UNC Tar Heels fan.

Lonnie was a member of the National Clogging Hall of Fame. He started his clogging career on the Grand Ole Opry with the Stoney Mountain Cloggers. He then taught clogging and directed several clogging teams, including the 4-H Cloggers, the Big Valley Cloggers, and the Golden Slippers. The teams won many trophies throughout the years.

More than anything, he loved spending time with his family, especially camping, going on picnics, and rides on the parkway.

Mr. Rush is survived by his daughters, Brenda Bishop (Ricky), Debra Steinel (Arthur), Sharon Irby (William) and Kathy Price (Robert); grandchildren, Joshua (Beth), Megan, Benji, Hannah, Hunter (Bethany), Angel, Kyle (Taylor), Caleb, Emily (Colby), Jacob, Mary-Grace (Andrew), and Katie-Beth; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

His family will receive friends beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 29, at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. The funeral service, with military honors, will follow at 3:00 p.m. Pastor Ricky Bishop, his son-in-law, will officiate. Interment will take place at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, on Friday, January 3, at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials in honor of Mr. Rush may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 950 West Faris Rd., Greenville, SC 29605, or to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.