EVA RUST, BUSINESS AND CHURCH LEADER IN CAPE GIRARDEAU, DIES

Cape Girardeau resident Eva L. Rust, who helped turn a Depression-era upholstery shop into one of the city's most successful independent businesses, died Wednesday, March 29, 1995, at the Chateau Girardeau Health Care Center. She was 88.

She was part-owner of the Rust and Martin furniture store. She was one of the first interior decorators in the area. She also was one of the first women to attend the Normal School, now Southeast Missouri State University.

She ran the Rust and Martin bridal shop for many years.

She was in charge of Rust and Martin's piece goods department and handled merchandising for the store. She retired in 1984.

In 1990, she received the Kathryn Newman Award from the Cape Girardeau Business and Professional Women's Club.

She was a former president of the club and served as a delegate to the group's state and national conventions.

"She was a very kind person," longtime friend Carrie Suedekum recalled. "She did a lot of charity work that people didn't know she was doing. She helped out a lot of families that needed help."

Suedekum said Rust helped finance the college education of needy students, paying part of their tuition. She donated clothes to needy elementary school children.

"She was a very compassionate person. She loved her home and her flowers and her yard," Suedekum said.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Centenary United Methodist Church. The Rev. Neil Stein will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Her three sons, Harry, Gary and Jim Rust, are all successful businessmen and civic leaders in Cape Girardeau.

Also surviving: a sister, Helen Covert of Houston; 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Eva and her husband, Wayne B. Rust, moved from Pontiac, Mich., to Cape Girardeau in 1933. They opened an upholstery store with Remmel "Bud" Martin.

The Rusts worked together to build the business. "They were partners in marriage and business both," Suedekum said.

The couple came to Cape Girardeau with a truck, some beans and 100 pounds of potatoes. "They came with practically nothing," Suedekum recalled.

Rust was born Dec. 30, 1906, at Bell City, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Palmer.

She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and then taught school at Bell City, before moving to Pontiac.

She and Wayne Rust were married March 10, 1931, at Pontiac. Wayne Rust died April 24, 1989.

She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. She was past president of United Methodist Women and a leader of the church for more than 50 years.

She also was a member of the Wednesday Club, a women's study club.

She was preceded in death by a sister.