Rebecca Lynn Rust

Rebecca Lynn Rust, 71, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2024, in Tallahassee after a short illness with family and friends by her side. Born in 1953, the daughter of the late Franklin and Mary Jane (Fink) Rust, Becky grew up with her two brothers on a farm in Bloomington, Illinois where the Rust family had deep roots. She grew up with a love of the beach, travel (especially to the southwest), collecting art, home design, and the complexities of economics. Most of all, she cherished her weekly dinners or movies with friends, time with family, and her beloved dogs. Active as a young girl, she rode show horses competitively and loved academics. Becky moved to Springfield, Illinois in grade school after her father became the manager of the Illinois State Fair. She smiled often when she shared memories from this time in her life getting to meet performers at the fair like the Beach Boys, Bob Hope, the Three Stooges and Ricky Nelson. Relocating during her high school years to Tampa when her father became Manager of Busch Gardens, Becky graduated with Chamberlain High School’s Class of 1971. She continued her education at Florida State University, completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics, later becoming an adjunct economics professor at her alma mater. She was also a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, remaining an active alumni throughout much of her life. In the mid-70’s pursuing her love of economics and leadership, Becky joined the Florida Department of Labor, serving in various roles including many years as the Bureau Chief of Labor Market Statistics. Her work, often cited in local and national news media, contributed greatly to the success of the Florida workforce development system and Becky was recognized as a leader among the states during her tenure. Recruited out of retirement in 2015, Becky relocated to Washington DC to work for the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics as an Assistant Commissioner. Highlights of her career included being the recipient of the prestigious Vladimir Chavrid LMI Award. In 2020 she returned home to Tallahassee to be near her brother Lee, founder of Tallahassee Fan and Blind, who passed away in 2022. She is survived by her eldest brother, Randall, a decorated combat naval aviator and retired United Airlines 747-400 pilot, who resides in Wolfeboro, NH. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Jessica Rust Taylor of Frisco, Colorado, and Jennifer Rust Posorske of Paradise Valley, AZ. She was very touched by the love she received from so many, commenting during her final days that “the extraordinary efforts of Randy, Jessica, and Jennifer were great expressions of family love at the end of my life as was the care given by other close friends including Maggie Bascom, Renee Waters, Diane Hayes, Karen Williams, Lucie Rowls, Mitra Toosi, Mason Jackson and Elaine Varnum who adopted my precious dog, Freckles”. While Becky has requested no service, her family requests that any donations please be sent at the link below to Last Hope Rescue, an all volunteer animal rescue in Tallahassee dedicated to saving the lives of homeless dogs. https://lasthoperescue.org/help-us-help/. Todd Wahlquist is assisting the family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

Tributes

Rebecca Lynn Rust

January 20, 1953 - June 21, 2024