Lt. Col. George “Bits” Cecil Rubenson, Jr., Ph.D.

Bits – a nickname given to him early in life by his big brother – was born on April 15, 1939 in Warren, Ohio. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1957 and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1961, and joined the Air Force in 1962. Bits retired twice – once from the U.S. Air Force in 1983 and again as associate professor of management in the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University in 2004. He was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2019 and died peacefully at home on February 25, 2020. In the summer of 1956, he attended a church youth conference at Defiance College in Ohio, where he met his future wife, Nancy Kawasaki. Bits and Nancy dated through high school and college, and married on June 17, 1961. They have two sons – Paul, now a museum exhibitions and collections manager in Baltimore; and Todd, a communications executive in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Bits lost his mother to cancer when he was 14. When he met Nancy two years later, he fell in love immediately, and that love deepened over the many years of their marriage. They both grew and changed throughout their lives, but always put their marriage and their family first.

Bits was a 30-year member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Salisbury, and sang tenor in church choirs throughout his life. Active in many church and community activities, he spearheaded a group to create the Disciples Garden - included in the design of the church but never finished beyond the fountain and half circular wall. He served in a variety of leadership roles for Salisbury Urban Ministries, including as chair of the Parish Council. A lifelong car enthusiast, Bits' most notable restoration project was a 1936 Packard 120 he discovered as a wreck in 1974 – an almost exact match to his father's car when he was growing up in WWII. He restored the car from the ground up. Bits held leadership roles in car clubs in Dover, Delaware and Salisbury, and won awards as editor of the Glass & Brass newsletter of the Eastern Shore Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America. While his career took Bits and his family around the country and the world, he found a special place at Crystal Lake, near Frankfort, Michigan. In the 1980s, the Rubensons and their Ohio friends, the Scherers, together built a cottage on the lake nicknamed "The Schrubery" where Bits could be found at any time reading the paper on the deck, drinking his bottom-less cup of coffee, and doing his best to stay out of the lake’s clear, ice-cold waters.

A Celebration of Life and Resurrection for

George “Bits” Rubenson

April 15, 1939—February 25, 2020

Asbury United Methodist Church 1401 Camden Avenue

Salisbury, Maryland 21801 (410) 749-2131

Order of Worship

August 21, 2021 11:00 AM

You are invited to stand

Prelude Music Medley - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring J. S. Bach

Dr. Michael Stefanek, organ

Military Honors US Air Force Honor Guard Words of Grace Rev. Glenn Catley

Greeting One: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? All: We have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of George “Bits” Rubenson. One: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? All: We come together, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow, hope, in death, resurrection.

A Liturgy of Remembrance and of Thanksgiving One: Gracious and loving God, for the joy and laughter that Bits brought to family and friends. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks. One: Gracious and loving God, for Bits’ warm heart, welcoming spirit, and his caring personality that touched all of us so deeply. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks. One: Gracious and loving God, for the generous, gracious and countless sacrificial ways Bits gave deeply of himself to family, friends, and this community through Asbury’s Disciples’ Garden… the Perdue School at Salisbury University… Salisbury Urban Ministries… and the Eastern Shore Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks. One: Gracious and loving God, for Bits’ dedication to his Church, and the sacrificial ways he gave of himself for its mission and ministry. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks. One: Gracious and loving God, for Bits’ commitment to Jesus Christ and his trust in God’s eternal care and keeping. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks.

One: Gracious and loving God, for Bits’ deep and abiding love that will remain in the hearts of Nancy, Paul and Trish, Todd and Lisa, Blaine, Sophie, Evy, Ivan and his entire family and wide circle of friends. All: Holy God, for this we give You thanks. We will always cherish the many precious memories Bits left with each of us.

Musical Reflection Let There Be Peace on Earth

Chancel Choir with Dr. Michael Stefanek directing

Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 23 Todd Rubenson

Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:25-28 Todd Rubenson One: Christ is Risen! All: Christ is Risen Indeed!

Musical Reflection On Eagle’s Wings Mark Hayes Chancel Choir with Dr. Michael Stefanek directing

Message Rev. Glenn Catley

Musical Reflection The Lord’s Prayer Albert Malotte Cynthia Holloway, vocalist, Dr. Michael Stefanek, piano

Prayers of Commendation and Thanksgiving Dismissal One: Now may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his

Son Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Postlude Music Toccata - Symphony No. 5 C. M. Widor Dr. Michael Stefanek, organ Recession of Clergy and Family

Please stand and allow the family to exit first, and please wear masks and observe social distancing

as you exit the Sanctuary and the Nave

All who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are invited to lunch under the tent beyond the church playground