Charles Walter Cushing Jr

"Bud" slipped the surly bonds of earth and peacefully flew west October 17th surrounded by family. He started his journey on February 21, 1930 in Oak Park IL to Charles Walter Cushing and Lois Bolton Cushing. The family moved to Hinsdale where Bud graduated from Hinsdale High School.

Bud attended the University of New Mexico on a Naval ROTC scholarship and was a proud member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. While at UNM, he met and married the love of his life, Patsy Morrow of Raton NM. He took an airplane ride, and it changed his destiny.

Bud pursued aviation with fervor few have ever seen. He went from student, to flight instructor, to crop duster, to an airline pilot with TWA. While at TWA Bud started in a DC3 and finished in a B747 with 6 different airplanes in between. After 38 years, Bud retired the #1 pilot at TWA.

In 1988, Bud started another chapter in his legacy that he was most proud of all. He bought a small grass strip amid farmland and built Cushing Field near Newark IL. From this humble beginning he personally mentored hundreds of aspiring pilots from all over the world. Many went on to careers in aviation including major airline pilots. Not the least of which were his children, Tres, Mindy and Kim who went on to be Captains at American, United, and FedEx airlines. Not to be satisfied, Bud mentored all 8 of his grandchildren to fly with 3 going on to major airlines and still more to come.

Bud was preceded in passing by his wife Patsy. He is survived by son Charles Walter Cushing IlI(Maureen), daughters Melinda Engberg(Douglas), Kimberley McDonald (Troy) and grandchildren Clare, Charles W. IV(Skyleigh), Catherine Cushing, Erik, Alex(Viridiana), Paige Engberg, Morrow and Teagan McDonald. A celebration of life is planned for November 9th at Cushing Field, Newark IL at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Buds name to the EAA Young Eagles Program. 

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