Irene Leslie Bush was born on August 25, 1929, in Jacksonville, Florida, and passed away on May 23, 2025, in Sebastian, Florida. Her 95 years of life in between were full – of love, fortitude, service, achievement, and adventure.
After Irene lost her mother at age 7, she took on the care of her 5-year-old brother, Thomas Leslie, Jr., and her father, Thomas Leslie. In addition to losing his wife, her father lost his tailor shop and rental homes he owned during the Great Depression. Irene did chores, such as cooking and washing clothes by hand with a washboard, but also led her brother on adventures, unbeknownst to their father working downtown, such as self-taught swimming in a creek with poisonous snakes.
Irene’s childhood included trips to visit her maternal grandparents and aunts in Alabama and Washington, D.C., including the aunts who taught her to sew and gave her the opportunity to explore the Smithsonian and other museums/venues in D.C. to her heart’s delight. Irene was an avid reader, a stellar student, and a lifelong learner.
With a scholarship, Irene went to Florida State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1951 with a major in Modern Languages and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and other collegiate honoraries.
Her involvement in the Delta Zeta sorority started in college and continued for decades after through her participation in Delta Zeta alumnae chapters and Panhellenic in Melbourne and Fort Lauderdale/the Gold Coast. Irene earned a master’s degree from the University of Florida with a specialty in English in 1969.
Irene married Harvey Bush, the love of her life, in 1951, leading to a long and fruitful partnership of over 60 years. They began their married life in Texas but shortly returned to Florida, where they lived the remainder of their lives.
Irene and Harvey had four daughters while living in Brevard County and being a part of the space program. They moved to Broward County in the 1970s to support two of their daughters in their competitive swimming. They subsequently moved to Indian River County in retirement. Irene described her life in Indian River County as “living in paradise.”
Irene and Harvey were seasoned world travelers, including multiple destinations on multiple continents over several decades. After she lost Harvey in 2012, she took each daughter on a trip – to Europe, to the Caribbean, to Africa on safari (at age 85), and to Alaska. She subsequently took a trip with two daughters to Iceland/Scandinavia when she was 87.
Irene is survived by her four daughters – Bonnie Rickel, Lois Bush, Sheri Reichert, and Leslie Bush – and Bonnie’s husband Bobby Rickel. She also is survived by five grandchildren, Michelle Glenn, Robert Rickel, Fred Reichert, Rachel Reichert, and Christina Reichert; five great-grandchildren, Dalton Glenn, Chloe Richardson, Isobel Rickel, Harvey Edwards, and Maeve Crosson; and two great-great-grandchildren, Novalee Glenn, and Charlie Mae Kreitzman. Irene shared her birthday with Christina Irene Reichert and Maeve Irene Crosson.
Irene’s profession over many decades was as a teacher of English and foreign languages. She first taught English and French at Melbourne High School and subsequently taught English and Spanish at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale.
She was the teacher who led other teachers with teaching materials and practices and made the costumes for school theatrical productions. She studied books on how the brain functions to inform her tutoring of students for whom typical classroom teaching was not sufficient. She ran the summer school for Japanese students at Pine Crest School for many years.
Irene was a lifelong Baptist at churches in Melbourne, Pompano Beach, and Vero Beach and taught Sunday School into her 90s. She was a leader throughout her life, often the president or another officer in sorority, civic, and political organizations.
Her last ‘gig’ with a civic organization was the Roseland Community Association. Irene’s avid support of the Republican Party throughout her adult life included serving as a member or officer in multiple Republican clubs and committees in Broward and Indian River counties, as well as working on campaigns, acting as a chaplain, and serving as a poll worker.
As Irene approached the end of her life, she remained a light for her family and others freely sharing her wisdom, grace, goodness, good cheer, and beautiful smile.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach in the main sanctuary. Church located at 2206 16th Ave., Vero Beach. Viewing at 1pm, 2pm service followed by a reception at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to For the Love of Paws at 12198 CR 512, Fellsmere, FL 32948, or online at www.pawsmealsonwheels.org.
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