August Rua

August "Augie" Rua, 81, of Pittsburg, longtime Pittsburg businessman, died at 8:10 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at the Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg.

He was born Aug. 11, 1924, at Burgess, Mo., to Pete and Louise (Castagna) Rua. He was a graduate of Cockerill High School.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Europe for two and-a-half years.

After the War, he attended Pittsburg State University. While attending college, he became an insurance agent, and on March of 1947, he founded Rua Insurance. He received his BS degree in business administration in 1949, and his Masters Degree in 1955.

He joined Farmers Insurance Group in 1947, and was appointed District Manager, in 1949. He supervised offices in Fort Scott, Parsons, Independence, and Galena. In addition to being agent for Farmer Insurance Group, he provided income tax services since 1949. He opened Broadway Realty in 1952. He was executive Vice President of Centennial Life Insurance Company, of Pittsburg, and with the ERC Corporation of Kansas City. Throughout his insurance career, he received numerous sales and production awards.

He married Helen Louise Clutter, on Jan. 22, 1944, at Little Rock, Ark. She survives of the home.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served on the Building Committee. He was a member of the National, State, and Local Life Underwriters, the National, State, and Local Insurance Agents Associations, the National, State, and Local Realtors Associations. He also served as Vice President of the Holiday Inn, and was Treasurer of the Extra Inn, Chairman of the Board of Pittsburg Ready Mix Concrete, and President of Briar Glen Development Company of the Synar Brothers.

He was a member of the Pittsburg Masonic Lodge No. 187 A.F. & A. M., Mont Joie Commandry No. 29 Knights Templar, both for fifty years. The Fort Scott Scottish Rites Bodies, and was a 32 Degree Master Mason, for thirty years. He was a member of the Mirza Shrine, the Color Guard, and the Legion of Honor, of which he had served as president. He was also a member of the Pittsburg Elks Lodge No. 412, for 31 years, the VFW, the Benjamin A. Fuller Post No. 26 of the American Legion, where he had served as past Commander, and secretary / treasurer for many years, a charter member of Crestwood Country Club, and a former member of the Girl Scout Advisory Board.

He was a avid Pittsburg State University supporter. This was evident in his financial support and the giving of his time and talents. He was a founding member of the Pittsburg State University Foundation, Inc., and was Past President of the Foundation, a member of the Board of Trustees, and the Pittsburg State University Alumni Association. He received the Meritorious Achievement Award, at Pittsburg State University, for Outstanding Alumni, and has sponsored several scholarships. The press box at Carnie Smith Stadium bears his name as result of his continued financial support of Pittsburg State University.

Additional survivors include a son, David Rua of Pittsburg; two daughters, Brenda Chappell of Pittsburg, and Alana Schubert of St. Louis, Mo.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Rua, and a sister, Marguerite Bair.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Thomas Sims, officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, where flag folding services will be provided by the Benjamin A. Fuller American Legion Post No. 26. Masonic services will be at 6:30 p.m., today, at the Brenner Mortuary Chapel, where the family will receive friends following the Masonic services until 8 p.m. Friends may call after 9 a.m., today to sign the register book.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth Street,.

© 2005, The Morning Sun

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