To Celebrate a Life of Love: Edward J. “Rusty” League, II
October 22, 1949-September 4, 2018
“Rusty” League (age 68) was born to SMgt. Ed League Sr. & Rose League at Kindley A.F.B., Bermuda, on October 22, 1949. Sporting a full head of curly red hair, Rusty was nicknamed by his beloved godmother after her Irish Setter. He answered God’s call to see Jesus, face-to-face, on September 4, 2018. His Mom, Rose Brusa League, died when he was a year old, and his Dad remarried when he was three.
Rusty was “all boy” and a magnet for mischief, but grew up to be a caring, giving man under the discipline of a career military dad. His biggest advocate was his step-mom, Thomasina Pileggi League, fondly nicknamed “Tommie,” who Rusty faithfully called Mom until her passing. Rusty and his family moved to San Antonio from Atlantic City, New Jersey (his Dad’s hometown) in 1962, when MSgt. League was transferred to Lackland A.F.B. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1967, and while he never finished college, he was always quick to say he had a degree in life experience.
Rusty’s biggest love was cars, and he was a self-confessed car nut who could name the year, make, and model of most any car he saw on the road. He spent the first few years of his working life as a car salesman and finance man for several car dealerships. He met the beautiful, Ms. Marilyn Dupnick, while selling cars and his life changed forever. His future in-laws disapproved of their baby girl dating a “car salesman,” so he applied to the telephone company, and was hired as a customer service representative. Marilyn and Rusty were married in August of 1979 and they have thrived “in good times and bad” for over 39 years. At Southwestern Bell, he advanced to Senior Account Executive. He moved to computer sales and sold mid-to-large sized mainframe computer systems for several years. Rusty finally found his true passion as a professional mortgage banker, and for the next 25 years, he helped thousands of San Antonians finance their dream homes. He loved to tell people he “sold” money for a living!
Born and raised a Catholic, Rusty was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in San Antonio since 1988. He served on many ministries and at one time was noted as the “unofficial” official greeter for all who entered St. Francis on any given Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Mass. Rusty wanted to welcome everyone with a smile and a handshake to God’s house. Rusty was also a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, a 4th Degree Sir Knight, and the Past Grand Knight of the St. Mark Knights of Columbus Council. He transferred to the new Council at St. Francis of Assisi in 2016.
Rusty will always be remembered as the man who made you smile. Quick with a joke, he made it a point to bring a smile to anyone’s face, sometimes at his own expense. He told folks all the time that they were “God’s blessings” to him when they cracked their wonderful smile! While Rusty and Marilyn had no children of their own, he worked very hard for children in need. He was a member of The Forgotten Child, which supports abused children taken into custody by the State of Texas through Child Protective Services. He believed that no child should be the victim of an adult abuser and spend their lives thinking they were not loved.
Rusty is survived by his wonderful wife Marilyn, his four sisters, Kathy (Enyat) Afnani, Theresa League, Margaret (Jamie) Dugan and Mary League Jensen. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard & Rebecca Turnage and Bob & Patricia Wood, and eleven nieces and nephews. Rusty would want any memorial contributions made to a Children’s Charity of your choice.
Sunday, October 14
Visitation at 6:30 pm
Vigil/Rosary at 7:30 pm
Monday, October 15
Funeral Mass at 10:30 am