Caroline Patricia Rusch

Caroline Patricia Rusch, known by all as Pat, was born on February 12, 1939, in Honolulu, Hawaii to Herman and Hazel Hull. Herman was in the Navy, resulting in Pat moving frequently while growing up. She loved to dance ballet and tap in her younger years. She met Don in 1958 at a ship’s cocktail party at the Officers Club in Coronado, California, while Don was stationed aboard the USS Lexington. They had a military wedding on June 25, 1960, and soon after, were transferred to Guam, where they lived for two years, surviving typhoons, with winds up to 210 mph. Following their time in Guam, they transferred back to the United States for three years before returning to the Pacific. Don and Pat moved to Saigon, but because of the war, Pat was evacuated early, returning to San Diego while Don stayed for an additional 13 months. In 1966, they moved back to the United States permanently and while living in Arlington, VA, adopted their first child, David in 1968, followed by the adoption of their second child, Donna, in 1971. Don retired from the Navy in 1976, and the family settled in Chantilly, Virginia. When her children were younger, Pat most enjoyed helping out in the office and classrooms at their schools. Later, when the kids were in middle and high school, she loved to help with their drama clubs. With more free time, they decided to follow their love of travel, and purchased an RV. They spent a month in the summer of 1985 with their kids journeying across the country, visiting family in California, and seeing many scenic sights along the way. The family enjoyed spending time together on the weekends at Aquia Creek–-camping, boating, and water skiing until their children went to college. After the kids moved away, Pat took a job with the First Marine Division Association in Chantilly. In 2003, Don and Pat moved to Heritage Hunt, where they made many friends. Pat enjoyed playing Bunco and going to wineries. Sadly, Pat passed away on January 27, 2025, after a series of complications stemming from a fall in November 2024. She is survived by her husband, Don; her son, David, his wife, Gretchen, and two children, Kaitlin and Henry; and her daughter Donna, her husband, Steve, and three children, Courtney, Kyle and Jack; and her great-grandson, Russell. She will be greatly missed.

Caroline Patricia Rusch

February 12, 1939 - January 27, 2025