On Nov. 30, former President George H.W. Bush passed away at the age of 94. Falling to vascular parkinsonism, a form of Parkinson’s disease that he was diagnosed with in 2012, Bush is remembered as a loving father, friend and politician.
First sworn into service in 1989, Bush served as the 41st President of the United States for four years. He is only the 12th President to rest at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. After which he would lie in St. Martin’s Episcopal Church until he would be moved to his final resting place in Texas.
Following a formal funeral service in Washington on Wednesday, a private funeral service in Texas took place on Friday. After which, the casket was loaded upon a Union Pacific Locomotive 4141 train for a 70-mile route across the state. For nearly three hours, Texans lined up along the tracks, paying tribute to the former President.
The train car was adorned with images of the American flag as well as baby blue and white to symbolize Air Force One. A glass-sided train car housed the flag-draped casket along the route.
Coming to a stop in College Station, TX, Bush was laid to rest at his Presidential Library alongside his wife and daughter. His wife, Barbara Bush passed away in April due to failing health. Their daughter passed at the age of 3 in 1953 due to Leukemia.
The Massachusetts Native enlisted in the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor. After serving for nearly four years, Bush returned and attended Yale University. Following graduation in 1948, Bush moved his family to Texas upon entering the oil business.
Although only having served one term, Bush is remembered for the victory in Kuwait and leading the nation during the final months of the Cold War. Nonetheless, his legacy continued with his son, George W. Bush who was elected the 43rd President of the United States.