William B. 'Bill' Bush, Ret. Merchant Marine Captain LAUREL - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, William B. "Bill" Bush, ret. Merchant Marine Captain, on Dec. 9, 2009. He is survived by two children, son, Thomas R. Bush (Rob) and his wife Joanne of Laurel, and a daughter, Betty Jane Ellis (B.J.) and her husband Steve of Seaford. In addition, he is survived by two sisters, Dora Simpson, Millsboro, and Anna Virginia Walker, Inverness, Miss.; four grandchildren, Suzanne McDonald, Denver, Pa., Christopher Bunting, Seaford, Eric A. Bunting, Philadelphia, Pa., and Claude James (C.J.) Ellis, Seaford; and four great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. William was preceded in death by his wives, Florence E. Bush (Plummer), Lucille Bush, (Hill) and Rose Kovats Smith; and a daughter, Linda A. Bunting. William was born in Ocean City, Md., on April 29, 1922, the son of Thomas (Tunis) E. Bush (Edelenbosch) and Anna V. Bush (Richardson). He attended Sunny Hills School, Hockessin, DE, later known as Sanford Preparatory School, where he graduated in 1940. He served in World War II as a corporal in the United States Marine Corp. He participated in major sea battles including Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal and Tulagi. He was a survivor of the sinking of the USS Yorktown CV-5. He received a purple heart, a silver star and a bronze star for his service to our country. William attended Asbury College where he studied for the ministry. After leaving the ministry, he followed in his father's footsteps as a Merchant Marine Captain. He worked for Sun Oil Company, Marcus Hook, Pa., and Saving Towing, Texas, until his retirement at the age of 70. William was a life member of the American Legion Post #19, Laurel, a life time member of the D.A.V., Chapter 9, Seaford, a member of the Yorktown CV-5 Club, Inc., and a member of the Masonic Temple Lodge #9, A.F. & A.M., Milford. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in loving memory of William B. Bush. Donations can be sent to: Jamie A. Magee, Sussex Coordinator, Alzheimer's Association DVC, P.O. Box 625, Georgetown, DE 19947. Interment will be held privately. The Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home Laurel, DE is serving the Bush family.