Former Lacey mayor and councilman William A. Bush dies at age 90, city announces

William Allan Bush, who served nearly 24 years on the Lacey City Council, including one term as mayor, has died, the city announced Friday.

Bush passed away on Dec. 21 at the Panorama retirement community in Lacey. He was 90, according to a death notice sent to The Olympian.

Bush served on the council from July 1973 to 1997, according to the city.

In 2005, the city recognized Bush for his lifelong advocacy for parks and recreation by naming a park at 4400 Chardonnay Drive SE, off Yelm Highway, the William A. Bush Park. That 10-acre park with a picnic shelter, playground equipment, and an open play area hosted the annual July 3rd fireworks for a number of years.

“William’s commitment to our community and lifelong passion for parks and recreation helped shape Lacey into the thriving city we enjoy today,” Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder said in a statement. “His legacy will live on for generations to come as people enjoy his namesake park and other parks across the city.”

Former Mayor Nancy Peterson said in a statement, “We have a lot of park land in Lacey, thanks to Bill, who had the foresight years ago to say that we needed to set aside money and land for parks, because they wouldn’t always be available.”

During his time in office, Bush also helped improve transportation infrastructure and supported construction of a performing arts center on the Saint Martin’s University campus in Lacey, according to the city.

He also led the effort to create the Intergovernmental Human Resources Committee, which distributed a portion of funds to local service groups working to help the Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater communities.

Bush, too, formed the Blue Ribbon Postal Task Force Committee to help improve service at the Lacey Post Office, according to the city.