Ronald "Rusty" Frederick Rau

Ronald “Rusty” Frederick Rau, 69, of Abilene, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 5, 2022, at home with family by his side.

Rusty was born on March 16, 1953, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was adopted as an infant by his loving parents, Frederick (Fred) and Lois Rau. His father’s company moved the family several times during Rusty’s childhood and adolescence, so he grew up in Chagrin Falls, OH, Huntingdon Valley, PA, and Forrest City, Arkansas. He graduated from Forrest City High School in 1971. After high school, Rusty attended Kent State University briefly before moving to Memphis, TN. In Memphis, he attended Memphis State University and Mid-South Bible College. It was in Memphis that he met Martha Bryan and they married in May 1975.

In 1976, Rusty and Martha moved to Abilene, Martha’s hometown, to work for her family’s business, Mary Bryan Decorative Center.  Rusty then went on to partner in another family business, the Abilene Lighting Center. Eventually, Rusty began working for Interstate Batteries as an account sales and delivery person where he worked for a number of years. During these years, the family attended Abilene Bible Church where Rusty served as a Sunday school teacher and participated in small-group fellowship. In 1991, Rusty and Martha divorced, at which time he moved to San Angelo, TX, and managed a Radio Shack store. He moved back to Abilene around 2005 where he continued to reside and work in sales until early 2022 when he became ill and was no longer able to work.

Rusty loved music. As a teenager, he and his friends had a garage band called the “Twilights.” Into adulthood, he enjoyed playing his guitar and covering songs from his favorite artists across a range of genres. On occasion, he could be found playing local venues’ open-mic or karaoke nights. Music was Rusty’s life-long passion.

Rusty was preceded in death by his father, Fred Rau of McKinney, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT.

He is survived by his mother, Lois Rau, of McKinney, TX, formerly of Salt Lake City, UT; his sister, Kim Spry and her husband Mike, of Allen, TX; and his nephews, Scott Spry and Kevin Spry and their partners. He is also survived by three adult children and their mother: Rachel King and her husband Jason, of Abilene; Fred Rau and his wife Carolee, of Las Vegas, NV; Mark Rau of Abilene; and Martha Bryan Rau of Abilene. Lastly, he is survived by 13 grandchildren who knew him as “Granddad.”

A memorial service to celebrate Rusty’s life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Abilene, 1741 Sayles Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Rusty’s name to the Cancer Services Network (Abilene), Hendrick Hospice, the Hendrick League House, or the American Cancer Society.