Wylda Rust

She was born Mar 22, 1938, in Wellston Ohio as Wylda Kathleen Harrison. Her parents were William H and Olive A (Duhl) Harrison. A younger sister came along 4 years later named Laura. The family moved around Ohio during her school years as her father was a State Highway Patrolman assigned to various Ohio posts throughout his career. The schools she attended included Gallipolis and Piqua, where she graduated in 1956. She was exposed to music early in life, playing piano and organ and singing trio harmony with her mother and younger sister. They performed often on her mother's gospel radio program.

She married Earl G. Houser the summer right after her graduation. The young couple welcomed a baby boy in 1957, naming him William G Houser. They settled in Abilene Kansas. The marriage ended about1961 and Wylda and her son moved back to Ohio. From what little she shared of this time of her life I inferred she struggled balancing motherhood and career. Suffice it to say she had many regrets later in life about not being there enough for her son. It has been moving to see them reconnect so regularly in her later years.

After several jobs and moves around the country she settled in Wauseon Ohio, working as a purchasing manager. She was a member of the Purchasing Managers Association, raising to a level of national officer. Wylda moved to Columbus Ohio around 1989 for work in purchasing management for a defense contractor. She attended a men's barbershop quartet and chorus Christmas concert in December 1989 with a friend. She spotted a bass singer in a quartet on stage that she took a shine to. They were set up on a blind date for New Year's Eve and the rest is history. Wylda married William B Rust on Feb 15, 1992, in Wellston Ohio, a marriage officiated by Wylda's mother Olive, a Nazarene minister.

Wylda and Bill have lived full lives having celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary on Feb 15, 2026. Their 34 years have been filled with love and work of course, but lots of travel and barbershop style singing, sometimes combining both in one event. While Bill was already a barbershopper, Wylda joined the Sweet Adelines organization for women only singers. She was in numerous quartets over the years, garnering 2 Region 4th place awards in competition. She also sang in large choruses of the chapters she joined, winning several top five medals in international chorus competitions.

On the travel front, the couple enjoyed 6 cruise vacations including a Mediterranean cruise in 2003. Other travel highlights include a barbershop singing tour of Australia-New Zealand, a 3-week driving tour of Europe's Alps and most recently a 2-island trip to Hawaii for their 30th wedding anniversary in 2022. They retired from the work a day world in 2010. While their travels and public singing had tapered off, they were enjoying the lazy days of retirement until her nonalcoholic liver disease went horrible in a hurry. From a joyous 2025 holiday season to emergency room to hospice to her passing in way too short a time. She lived life to the fullest to the end. She will be greatly missed by family and numerous friends encountered over the years. She is survived by husband Bill, sister Laura, son Bill, DIL Rosetta, two grandsons Chris and Jeff and numerous great and great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation for Wylda will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and will be private for the family. Interment will be held at Clay Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.