July 31, 1949 - January 2, 2017

Rusty kicked the bucket on Monday, January 2, 2017. A cowboy at heart, he did things his way with an unbitten tongue. Take him or leave him, he was Rusty and you always knew what to expect. He taught us to never pull a finger, smell the cake or cover the telephones with towels when SDG&E calls about blowing out the phone lines. A rough and tough cream puff who always had a joke that was sure to make us laugh, gasp or blush. And with that thought in mind we'll leave you with this, something he would have shared on a day like today..."A friend of mine stopped smoking, drinking, overeating, and chasing women -- all at the same time. It was a lovely funeral."Bye! A direct descendant of the Hiram Walker distilleries family on his father's side, Rusty was a grandson of one of the pioneering families of Rancho Santa Fe and graduated from Army Navy Academy in Carlsbad in 1967 and made North County his home. Beneath all the jokes and stories lay a sensitive and caring heart, he strongly believed in supporting law enforcement and the military and helping people in need, often donating time or support anonymously. Rusty is survived by loving family and friends and a community who will all miss him more than he would have imagined.