OBIT: George Rummage, d. age 66,  Nelson/Bullitt Co., KY

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Transcribed by: kybrenda@aol.com
Date : 8 Sept 00
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George Rummage, 66, died Friday at his Shepherdsville home after a long illness. A native of 
Nelson County, he had lived in Bullitt County for 40 years.

"We all thought a lot of George," said Armstrong, who was a pallbearer. "He was an honest 
dedicated man who tried to do the best he could. I admired him for his dedication to county 
government."

In addition to his time as magistrate, Rummage was a deputy county jailer in the early 
1970s. He was a deputy sheriff from1974-78, when he began a four-year term as sheriff.
Four years later, Rummage began his first term as magistrate. He won his second term, 
despite ill health, by beating out Republican Mary Sublett.

Although he had lung cancer, asthma and bronchitis, was a diabetic and underwent a 
tracheotomy in the mid-1980s, he said during his 1985 campaign that his health problems 
didn't "bother me (to) where I can't do my job. I've never turned down a phone call."
Rummage was active in Fiscal Court until last year, when his health worsened and he missed 
the past few months of meetings.

The Rev. Michael Lanway, pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in Deatsville, said Monday that 
cancer was Rummage's biggest adversary during the past few years. "George faced his cancer 
like he faced other difficult things in his life: He stood tall and fought well," said 
Lanway, who often visited Rummage. "Because of his courage and his strength, and because of 
the love of his family and friends, George was able to fight the cancer the way he did."
That love was exhibited throughout the funeral at the Hardy- Close Funeral Home chapel in 
Shepherdsville.

One of Rummage's grandson, Justin McGimsey, tried to read a poem, but his eyes filled with 
tears, his voice quivered, and he was unable to go on. Lanway took over reading the poem, 
titled "In God's Flower Garden." In part  it says:

"It's hard to lose the one you love, to see them pass away; the sweetest and the kindest 
gone, while others are left to stay."

While the service was solemn and sad, Rummage's friends and family also celebrated his 
accomplishments and contributions over six decades."I think I've lost my best friend," said 
his oldest sister, Mary Biven of Shepherdsville. She said she was well aware of her 
brother's strong will. "I always made a joke of the fact that I was 2 years and 2 months 
older than him and I couldn't tell him what to do." Rummage's niece, Lily Wesley of Pleasure 
Ridge Park, said he would "really be  missed."

And Quincy Ashbaugh, who grew up with Rummage in Nelson County and later worked with him in 
a factory in Louisville during the 1940s, said his friend was "the best." "Bud would do 
anything for you," Ashbaugh said.

Fourth District Magistrate James R. "Butch" Sweat, who worked with Rummage in the Sheriff's 
Department and as a colleague on Fiscal Court, said Rummage was "real straightforward."
"You knew where you stood when George was sheriff," Sweat said. "He pushed for law and order 
regardless of who you were. . . . I just have  the highest respect for him and always will. 
He was a remarkable individual." Charlie Long, an investigator for the commonwealth's 
attorney's office,  agreed that Rummage was a fair and hard-working law-enforcement officer, 
who would "come to work at daylight and wouldn't leave until late at night." As magistrate, 
Rummage pushed for improvements in his district and throughout  the county. He supported new 
patrol cars and communications equipment for  county police and the construction of two 
bridges across Brier Creek. 

Rummage got the nickname "Big George" early on because of his stature -- he  was more than 6 
feet tall. But he was big in many other ways because of "how  much he loved and in how much 
he gave," Lanway said. 

Rummage is survived by his wife, the former Betty Jean Douglas. The couple's 40th wedding 
anniversary would have been March 18. Other survivors include a son, Bill Rummage, of 
Shepherdsville; a  daughter, Barbara DeFerraro, of Mount Washington; a brother, James 
Rummage;  and a sister, Mildred Norton, both of Deatsville; a sister, Martha Jo Underwood of 
Indianapolis, and six grandchildren.