Virginia Leaders Note Death Of 41st President George H.W. Bush

RICHMOND, VA—With the news that the nation's 41st president, George Herbert Walker Bush, died Friday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered American and Virginia flags to be flown at half-staff immediately through Dec. 30 to mark Bush's passing. Bush served as president from 1989-1992 and died at age 94.

"President George H.W. Bush led a remarkable life, marked by his devotion to his beloved wife Barbara, commitment to public service, and unwavering decency to others," Northam said in a statement. "May we all take a page from his book. Pam and I extend our thoughts to the Bush family during this time of loss."

Bush enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday and flew 58 combat missions during World War II. His life of service included two terms in Congress beginning in 1967, Republican National Chairman, ambassador to China, chief of the U. S. Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China and director of the CIA.

He ran for president in 1980, losing the Republican Party's nomination to Ronald Reagan, who chose him as his running mate. Bush served two terms as Reagan's vice president, then won the presidency in 1988. Historians and members of both political parties recalled Bush as a true patriot and statesman who embodied the decency and selfless service of America's Greatest Generation.

Bush died shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, about eight months after the death of his wife, Barbara Bush, family spokesman Jim McGrath said. He is also survived by two other sons, Marvin and Neil; and a daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, who died in April 2018, and a daughter, Pauline (Robin), who died of leukemia before her fourth birthday.

Two former Virginia governors, U.S. Senator Mark Warner and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, both Democrats, also weighed in about Bush's death.

From Warner: "George H.W. Bush was a class act—a person of tremendous strength and moral character who exemplified the values of public service. There can be no question that his highest commitment was always to our country and to our values—to justice, freedom, and the rights of human beings everywhere. My thoughts are with the Bush family at this time of loss."

From Kaine: "President Bush stands as a model of dignity in public service. Whether flying 58 combat missions in World War II, signing the Americans with Disabilities Act, or bringing the Cold War to a peaceful end, he carried his accomplishments with unparalleled humility. He lived a long life devoted to his country, dying old and full of days. I am saddened by his passing, and my condolences go out to the Bush family."

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Patch editor Deb Belt contributed to this report

PHOTO: Former President George H.W. Bush at his office on March 29, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)