Bush’s funeral the closing chapter in long love story
HOUSTON – Barbara Pierce Bush was remembered Saturday as a loyal and devoted wife, stern but affectionate mother, good-humored friend and authentic first lady at a funeral attended by four former presidents, including her husband and son.
Past presidents and pizzeria owners, heads of state and historians, and people from all walks of life crowded into St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston to pay their respects to Barbara Bush, the former first lady who touched many across the nation with her nononsense style and affinity for helping others. Mrs. Bush died Tuesday at age 92.
Despite her many roles, her son Jeb Bush said, the story of President and Mrs. Bush was first and foremost a love story. He quoted a 1994 love letter his father, former President George H.W. Bush, wrote on their wedding anniversary.
“Will you marry me? Oops, I forgot, you did that 49 years ago today!” the elder Bush wrote. “I have climbed perhaps the highest mountain in the world, but even that can not hold a candle to being Barbara’s husband.”
Among the estimated 1,500 people attending the invitation-only funeral were all of the living presidents except Jimmy Carter, who was traveling overseas – as well as first lady Melania Trump and former first ladies. TV cameras captured intimate moments among the first families, with former president Barack Obama sharing a word with Mrs. Trump.
President Donald Trump, following custom, did not attend the funeral but tweeted a photo of Mrs. Bush’s official portrait in the White House in remembrance.
Jeb Bush delivered a eulogy, as did longtime friend Susan Baker, wife of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, and historian Jon Meacham.
VIPs filled the first 10 rows of pews, and included members of first families dating back to the Kennedys. Barack and Michelle Obama took their seats in the left front row, next to Bill and Hillary Clinton. At the far end of the same row sat former vice presidents Dick Cheney and Dan Quayle, with their second ladies.
Across the aisle, George H.W. Bush was wheeled into his position, front row right side, wearing his trademark colorful socks – with pictures of books in homage to his wife’s longtime commitment to promoting literacy.
As the casket entered the church, eight pallbearers – all Bush grandchildren – gently placed their hands on the casket containing Barbara Bush and wheeled it down the length of the middle aisle, then took their seats.
Traditional hymns played on a pipe organ: “Nearer My God,” “Praise to the Lord,” “In the Garden,” “Amazing Grace” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”
Her granddaughters read Scripture passages from Ecclesiastes, and from Proverbs. “A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain,” the passage began.
Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, called his mother a “teacher and role model of how to live a life of purpose and meaning.”