Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Varner, LaVaughn Rush June 29 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K Taylor bluewolf@onemain.com July 4, 2004, 8:06 pm The Bakersfield Californian LaVaughn Varner Services: Tues., July 6, 3 p.m. LaVaughn Rush Varner passed away peacefully at home, in Bakersfield on June 29, 2004, after a short illness. She was 92 years old. She was born June 22, 1912 to John Daniel Rush and Cora Mae Shoupman Rush in Duenweg, Missouri near Joplin. The family moved to Tampico, Mexico when she was a young girl. There her father initially worked for Gypsy Oil Co., in one of the countrys oldest oil fields. She and the other employees children received their education from tutors until they returned to the United States. She was a graduate of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. After a short courtship, she eloped with and married Burl G. Varner, July 21, 1932 in Exeter, Missouri, later moving to Los Angeles. They were married 51 years before his death on October 14, 1983. Survivors include her son, James Rush Varner of Bakersfield; and two daughters, Elizabeth Kaiser of Cottage Grove, Oregon and JoAnne Leavitt of Lafayette, CA; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her young son, John. In 1933, her father, with only $350 capital, founded J.D. Rush Co. in Gardena, California. The company was subsequently expanded to include other business and was operated by her husband, Burl G. Varner. Her son, James Rush Varner, the current C.E.O. of J.D. Rush, moved the company to Bakersfield in 1992. Her granddaughter, Teri Varner Dickson is now the president of the company. Mrs. Varner was a lifelong homemaker, a fabulous cook and enjoyed entertaining. As a younger woman she was an accomplished ballroom dancer, participating in Arthur Murray competitions. She was also skilled in needlepoint, ceramics and other artisitic endeavors. She was an avid Dodger fan, competitive canasta player and lifelong Republican. Family was the most important thing in her life and while raising her children, she was active at Vermont Ave. Presbyterian Church, in Jobs Daughters and DeMolay. She particularly enjoyed her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She loved to shop and was the queen of fashion! Her grandchildren looked forward each September to back-to-school shopping expeditions with her. Visitation will be held Monday, July 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Her grandson, Reverend John D. Kaiser will conduct her funeral service at Greenlawn Southwest Memorial Chapel, 2739 Panama Ln. She will be buried in a family graveside service next to her husband at Forest Lawn, Cypress. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Link to Life, 1706 Chester Ave., St. 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Greenlawn Southwest Mortuary Funeral Directors Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob523varner.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb