Wallace R. Rust

Wallace R. Rust, a retired Eastman Kodak Co. employee and World War II veteran, beloved son of Sarah Irene (née Durbin) and E. Albert Rust, died on Feb. 8, 2025 in Greece, New York.  He was 98 years old.

A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Rust worked 32 years for Kodak before retiring in March, 1983.  He was a Technical Associate in the Film Technical Services Division at Kodak Park in Rochester, NY.  He worked on projects in electronics and mathematics with long-time friends and colleagues Ray Newell, Brita Lilius, and Reginald Neale.  He and co-worker Robert J. Whitman received a U.S. Patent in 1969 for an IBM punchcard reader.

As a boy, Mr. Rust and his brother enjoyed watching the circus and practiced tightrope walking in the backyard.  However, dreams of joining the circus were interrupted by World War II.  After graduating from Millcreek High School near Erie, Mr. Rust served in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Pharmacist’s Mate at Sampson (NY) Naval Hospital during the war.  Although he scored 100% in the Morse code evaluation test, he chose to become a corpsman, preferring to save lives than take them.  He asserted that the U.S. was not at war with the German people (indeed, he treated German POWs at the Naval Hospital); the U.S. was at war with Hitler, defending Western Europe from a murderous dictator who was invading our allies.  Mr. Rust received an Honorable Service Medal from General Eisenhower for his service.

In 1950 he received a bachelor of science degree cum laude in chemistry from Gannon University in Erie.  While in Erie, he worked at Lynch Camera Shop, where he worked in the darkroom and developed a passion for photography, which was also passed down from his father.

Mr. Rust was a long-serving volunteer for the Greece Historical Society where he constructed audio-assisted exhibits.  He was a member of the Optical Society of America, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the U.S. Power Squadrons, and the Reed Organ Society.  He was also a charter member of the Rochester Memorial Society and of broadcast station WXXI.  He was a passionate supporter of humanitarian, environmental, and animal sanctuary causes.

Mr. Rust was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians since 1982 and achieved the Order of Merlin.  He performed for children at schools and birthday parties, and for adults at parties, churches, and nursing homes.

Mr. Rust was married to Dr. Mildred D. Rust until 1982 (d. 2021) and to the former Laurel J. English until her death in 1991.  He is also predeceased by his long-time companion, Ruth Fitzgerald.

Mr. Rust is survived by his sister Iola (Rusty) Brewer (Jerry) of Fairborn, Ohio; his brother Donald L. (Rusty) Rust (Faith) of Sarasota, Florida; daughters Dr. Paula C. Rodriguez Rust and Dr. Lynn J Rust, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

His Memorial Service with military honors will be held Tuesday (April 22nd) 3:00 PM in the chapel of Vay-Schleich and Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Rust’s memory may be made to the Greece Historical Society & Museum, https://greecehistoricalsociety.org/.