George Allen "Rus" Bailey, Jr.

George A. “Rus” Bailey, 79, died September 20, 2026, at Bronson Kalamazoo Hospital.

Rus was born on November 29, 1946, in Atlanta, GA, the son of George Bailey and Florence Gately Bailey. Raised in Cincinnati, OH, he graduated from Thomas More University in 1969. He served twenty years active duty in the Supply Office in the United States Navy.

Rus married Susan Schwegel on December 5, 1969, in Athens, Georgia. Surviving are his wife, Susan; five children, Jennifer Bailey, Lorie Bailey Llewellyn, Kathleen Bailey Redmond, Erin Bailey and Russell Bailey; seven grandchildren, Dr. Brandon Llewellyn, Evan Llewellyn, Connor Llewellyn, Teagan Redmond, Liam Redmond, Alex Bailey and Eoin Bailey and a great-granddaughter, Eleanor Llewellyn.

Rus was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Rus enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, building models and spending time on his computer.

Friends will be received 11:00 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. Thursday, September 24, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Christopher Ankley 12:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Full Military Honors and a committal service will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of Rus may be directed to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.