Details from The Associated Press about former President George H.W. Bush attending Friday’s public visitation.
A family spokesman says former President George H.W. Bush decided at the last minute to greet mourners paying their respects to his wife, Barbara.
Jim McGrath tells The Associated Press that Bush was watching live video from the Houston church where his wife’s casket had arrived early Friday. Hundreds of people had lined up early for a public viewing that started at noon.
McGrath says the former president was “very touched” by the images he saw. McGrath says Bush told his staff that he wanted to go to the church himself . McGrath says, “It was entirely the president’s idea to go there.”
Bush was at the church for about 15 minutes, shaking hands with dozens of people from his wheelchair, near his wife’s casket. The couple were married for 73 years before Barbara Bush died on Tuesday at age 92.
WTAW will broadcast Saturday’s funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush Saturday morning, starting at 11 a.m. on 1620 and radioaggieland.com
From the office of George H.W. Bush:
Family, dignitaries and invited guests attending the funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. CST at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church will experience an Easter Liturgy that celebrates her singular life of service and devotion to her family and countless friends.
The Bush family led by former President George H. W. Bush, former President and Mrs. George W. Bush, former President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, former President and Mrs. Barack Obama, and First Lady Melania Trump – along with a 1500 guests – will gather to pay respects to the much beloved matriarch known for her wit, candor and relentless advocacy for family literacy.
As part of the 90-minute service, Mrs. Bush chose her son Gov. Jeb Bush, personal friend and confidant Susan Baker and historian Jon Meacham as eulogists.
Co-celebrants for the funeral are The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston and The Rev. Dr. Peter Cheney, Chaplain at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Following the funeral service, the Bush family will proceed by motorcade through Memorial Park in Houston en route to the Bush Library in College Station for burial.