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Jeanne Creech Bush ’45

After graduating from the Anna Head School (now Head-Royce School) in Oakland, California, Jeanne boarded a train from Berkeley for Portland. She majored in psychology at Reed and remembered those three years as a wonderful adventure, replete with independent living, new friends, and close contact with faculty. “Unfortunately,” she said, “my immaturity prevented me from talking advantage of all that Reed has to offer.”

She returned to the Bay Area to pursue her passion for travel. At 5' 10'' she was too tall to be a flight attendant in 1948, so she joined the management team in the United Airlines office in Union Square. This was the beginning of a life of travel and adventure. She met Air Force Lt. Robert Bush of Yuba City, who was home on leave, having been stationed in Europe following World War II. His flying career would take him back to Europe, but they managed to fit a wedding in prior to his leaving in May 1952. Their first home was in Tucson, Arizona, where Robert was a pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Here their two children, Robert and Lesle, were born. Following a successful career in the Air Force, Bob and Jeanne returned to the Bay Area. Jeanne finished her bachelor’s degree in political science at Whittier College in 1971 and managed a travel business. The couple continued their quest for adventure, joining safaris, hot-air ballooning through France, sailing down the Yangtze, and running with the bulls in Pamplona. They considered London their second home, and when both of their children began to work for airlines, they could rarely be found at home. After retiring, they settled in Walnut Creek to enjoy life nearer their children. Jeanne is survived by her daughter, Lesle Bush Thomas, and her brother, John W. Creech.

Appeared in Reed magazine: December 2016