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Walter Bush of Buckeye, Arizona, passed away on November 19, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was an international businessman, world traveler and a premier American Saddlebred horse breeder. Walter was born September 25, 1929, in Dadeville, Missouri, to Calvin W. and Maude Friend Bush. He is survived by his wife Connie, sister Amanda Margaret Cushman, and sons Danny and Alexander.

Walter spent the 1950s studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, servicing American Military Personnel with life insurance on military bases in Europe and North Africa. He founded his own general agency in Frankfurt, Germany.

In the 1960s, Mr. Bush moved to Phoenix, while maintaining a Zurich home and office and traveling to other agency offices located in Germany, England, Belgium, Spain and Thailand. He was the founder of the American Continental Life Insurance Co. and the co-founder of the trade association, Association of Arizona Insurers. In 1974, The American Biographical Encyclopedia named Walter as one of the most prominent personalities in Arizona.

In the 1970s, Walter would pursue another of his passions and promptly establish himself as a leader in the horse world. A life member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, Walter began the Desert Oasis Ranch program in Chandler, Arizona. His desire for a better way to research bloodlines created the foundation for the American Saddlebred bloodline database. He was the co-founder for the American Saddlebred Association of Arizona. His breeding program would be the first to have a horse that would win not only the Three-Gaited World’s Grand Championship but the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship as well.

Countless horses from his breeding program have garnered World’s Champion and World’s Champion of Champions titles. Many can still be found competing, and countless are now the prized stock in breeding programs around the world. Examples of his horse breeding success can be found in such notable champions as CH Desert’s Supreme Lady, CH What A Memory!, CH The Last Temptation, the grand stallion Desert’s Supreme Admiral, the World’s Champion and notable sire Desert’s Supreme Memories, and many, many others.

Walter was an avid reader and a free thinker. He marched to his own drum, yet was willing and sharing with his beliefs and his pursuits. He never hesitated to spend his time, energy or money supporting programs and causes that were for the betterment of all.

A Celebration of Life for Walter will be held on December 5, 2014, at 4 p.m. at the family’s home in Buckeye. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to: Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, the Gardiner House, www.youcaring.com/WalterBushCelebrationOfLifeFund.