Former President George H.W. Bush has passed away at the age of 94.
According to a family spokesman, Bush died around 10 p.m. Friday night. Bush’s death comes nearly 8 months after the death of his wife of 73 years, Barbara. He is survived by five children, including former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and 14 grandchildren.
Following the death of his father, former President George W. Bush issued the following statement.
“Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died. George H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.”
President Trump, who is in Argentina at the G-20 summit, tweeted the following message mourning the loss of President Bush.
Statement from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush pic.twitter.com/qxPsp4Ggs7
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018
Governor Bryant ordered that all state and American flags will be flown at half-staff for the next 30 days to honor the former President’s passing, and shared a post celebrating Bush’s storied career.
The 41st President had been active in politics for over 40 years after working in the oil business in Texas.
Prior to his life in politics, Bush enlisted in the U.S. Navy after he turned 18 and became the youngest pilot in the Navy. He flew 58 combat missions, and in 1944, he was hit by anti-aircraft fire 600 miles south of Japan but managed to bail out. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.
Outside of politics, Bush had a love for baseball, including a stint as the captain of the Yale baseball team in the 1940s.
