May 25, 1971 – April 30, 2022
On the morning of Saturday, April 30, 2022, Rusty Bolen passed away surrounded by family and friends. He was 50 years old.
Rusty was born Russell Wayne Bolen on May 25, 1971 in Texas City to Elizabeth and Tommy Bolen. Whether fishing, designing beautiful outdoor spaces, scuba diving, or exploring trails and mountains, Rusty was most at home in the great outdoors. Fresh out of Dickinson High School, Rusty followed in the footsteps of his father, grandmother and grandfather in the park system by launching a career as a parks worker with the City of League City.
In 1990, Rusty joined the City of League City as maintenance worker on the mowing crew and eventually held every position in the department before becoming Parks Operations Superintendent. Rusty took great pride in keeping the parks of League City hazard free, clean and beautiful for families and wildlife to enjoy. A certified arborist, one of Rusty’s fondest responsibilities was caring for The Ghirardi Oak which is more than a century old and stands regally over the WaterSmart Park in League City. Through the parks system, Rusty worked with Eagle Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America as well as multiple garden clubs and community organizations. He retired from League City in April of 2021.
When not caring for the parks of League City, Rusty was often found on the water. An avid fisherman since childhood, many relaxing mornings were spent in his kayak fishing at West Bay – Galveston.
Rusty’s greatest passion was under the water. A certified Dive Master since 2000, he was also a self-proclaimed Caribbean junkie. His favorite dive spots included Cozumel, Roatan and the Cayman Islands. His passion for diving brought him to his wife Renee. They met while diving in open waters off an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The pair shared their 20th wedding anniversary on April 18, 2022.
Rusty will be greatly missed by loving wife Renee, his devoted pup Sophie, his step-daughter Taylor, his mother Elizabeth Clark Bolen, his father Tommy Bolen, Sr., his brother Tommy Gene Bolen, Jr., and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends – the Clark family, Fox family, Gonzalez family, Hatfield family Penner family and Ritter family.
A memorial service will be hosted on May 12, 2022 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas, 77546. Visitation begins at 5 p.m. with the memorial service beginning at 6 p.m.
16 thoughts on “Russell "Rusty" Wayne Bolen”
Renee, We pray for inner peace and understanding. We're so saddened by your loss. Please take care and call if you need anything. Love, Chuck, and Jamie
Farewell old friend. Peace be with you.
Love you Pops.
You will be missed our friend for over thirty years!
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family during this difficult time.
Until we meet again, Love Ya Rusty!
Gary & Lori Mansfield
The body may be gone but the love and memories will last forever.
Stay blessed, Renee.
We had some great times my friend! Will always remember you. God Bless.
He was a great boss and superintendent always had a smile on his face I remember him from high school and digits in high school I went to school with him you will be missed
I meant to say Dickinson high School
What can I say about Rusty. His dedication and work to the League City Parks and Recreation department was unmatched. His passion and love showed through in the quality of work that he did each and every day. This also was reflected in how he treated people by being empathetic and kind.
I met Rusty in 1990 when he started with the parks department and it grew into a career that his father and grandfathers legacy lived on through him. After I moved of state in 2006.
I was able to visit with Rusty a number of times when I was back in League City. The most memorable when we had a reunion at Countryside park with previous Maintenance and Park worker. We enjoyed the comradery of sharing many wonderful experiences. True to form Rusty made sure everything went well. He was committed to excellence
His zest for life was unparcelled by how he lived his life. If he was working, fishing, scuba diving or with his family and friends. He was a good man. He did not complain about the long hours and working evening and weekend ( he got the job done right). There were many special events that had to go off without a hitch ie July 4th celebration, lighting of the Christmas tree etc. No job was to big or to small.
I have been abundantly blessed to have worked with Rusty and could call him a colleague and a friend.
I would like to propose to make a donation to the Patrons of the park foundation to plant a Live a Oak tree in Rusty name at his favorite park.
We send our condolences to his family. May God provide you peace in your heart to know he is not suffering and you will see him again someday at the beautiful big park in the sky ( that has a ocean to scuba dive in). May he rest in Gods peace.
We love you and will miss you. I am un able to attend my son is graduating from college but I would like to come to the dedication of the tree.
Thank you for such kind words, he thought the world of you!!! Renee
so sorry for you loss, he was a great person that i had a great pleaser working with.
You’d be hard-pressed to encounter a more kind-hearted, devoted, good-natured and humored, and common-sensed man than Rusty. It is with deep and humble gratitude that I got to know him in some small way. Rusty truly is a man who made this old world a better place for his being here, and no doubt he’s doing the same still.
He will truly be missed, he was such a great person!!
Just saw this. I heard about Rusty’s passing a few months afterwards. I’m still shocked. Taken way too early. I knew him because of running a teenage baseball league in LC and using the parks all these years. His dad used to care for Lobit and Walter Hall Park.
Rusty was a friend. He was a true gentleman. And he was a hard worker that everyone respected.
Rest in peace, brother!
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