James E. Rush

James E. Rush, Ph.D, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on May 22, 2018. The memorial service will be held at Philander Smith College in the Wesley Chapel on Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reception to follow at Philander Smith College, 900 West Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72202. Jim was born in Ames, Iowa on January 2, 1941. He received his B.S. from Geneva College, continued on to Crozer Theological Seminary to receive his Masters of Divinity, and received his PhD from Hartford Seminary Foundation. As a lifetime student, Jim continued his studies throughout his life in India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and throughout the U.S. including Harvard Medical School, Georgetown University, the Tibetan Medical & Astrological Institute of H.H. the Dalai Lama and the University of Hawaii. Jim served as chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Philander Smith College. He had been teaching full time at Philander Smith College since 1976 and was known as an expert in global philosophies and religions, formative spirituality, critical thinking, and moral reasoning, as well as the practices of Buddhism, Mindfulness, and Biomedical Ethics. Since 1979 he taught during the summers at Arkansas Governor's School and taught Medical Ethics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for over 25 years. He also served on the Bioethics committee at Arkansas Children's Hospital for 20 years. Throughout his career, Jim was acknowledged with many awards. In February he was nominated by his students and received the Living Legend Award at Philander Smith College. Numerous times he was recognized by Who's Who Among American Teachers as well as Who's Who in Religion, The Mary and Ira A. Brumley Award for Religious Education, Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Higher Education, the Lacerine Walsh Faculty of the Year Award, and twice received the Explery Teachers Award from The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. Jim was a Methodist Minister for over 50 years serving churches in Connecticut, New York and Arkansas. He was a founding member of the Ecumenical Buddhist Society of Little Rock and a practicing Buddhist. With over 45 years of meditation experience, Jim studied with Dr. Lawrence LeShan in the art of Spiritual Healing and studied Holotropic Breathwork with Stan and Christina Grof. Jim came by his interest in medicine and healing naturally as his late relative Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813) was a Philadelphia physician who served as a member of the Continental Congress and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Jim was beloved by his students, faculty and staff. He was gentle, kind, and compassionate toward all those that he encountered. He worked tirelessly to empower his students and to bring altruism and compassion into all that he did and the curriculum that he offered. He was passionate about being of service to others through his teaching, how he lived his life and through his spiritual practices. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Lewers, and his father, Harold Rush. Jim is survived by his wife, Kaycie Marler-Rush, his brother, Dave Rush, and Dave's wife, Jan Rush. He is also survived by his niece and nephew, Jackie Rush and Nicholas Rush. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to the Jim Rush Legacy Memorial Fund, www.gofundme.com/drjimrush.