THE LATEST on the funeral and burial of former first lady Barbara Bush (all times local):
Fifteen hundred people filled St. Martin's Episcopal Church Saturday for the funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Visiting dignitaries included members of six other families to call the White House home, from the Kennedys to the Obamas. But at its core, this was a ceremony for the Bush family.
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Eight pallbearers, including six grandsons, bore the casket of Mrs. Bush from the front doors of Saint Martin's Episcopal Church to the hearse waiting outside. Behind them, President George W. Bush pushed a wheelchair carrying his father, President George H.W. Bush. Mrs. Bush's remaining children, grandchildren, and their spouses waited as a police honor guard saluted.
As the hearse departed, the family boarded a caravan of SUVs, and the procession to College Station began. There, Mrs. Bush was buried on the grounds of the Bush Presidential Library near her daughter Robin.
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3:30 p.m.
A funeral procession has entered the campus of Texas A&M University for the burial of former first lady Barbara Bush.
The motorcade left Houston following a private funeral attended by roughly 1,500 people at the church she and her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, regularly attended. He was among four former U.S. presidents at the service.
Hundreds of people lined streets as more than a dozen vehicles in the procession slowly wound their way from the nation’s largest Episcopal church in Houston to the campus in College Station, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) away.
The university is home to George H.W. Bush’s presidential library. Barbara Bush will be buried in a gated plot near the grave of their 3-year-old daughter, Robin. She died of leukemia in 1953.
700 @TAMU Corps of Cadets are currently being bussed to the #GeorgeHWBushLibrary. They will stand, at attention, along #BarbaraBush Drive as part of the funeral procession. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/ducSYrmUka
— Melissa Correa (@KHOUmelissa) April 21, 2018
Bush family @HPMNews887 #BarbaraBush pic.twitter.com/3olmxXI8C3
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/jgm41/status/987748268443611136
#BarbaraBush @HPMNews887 pic.twitter.com/C76auzplnd
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
#BarbaraBush, followed by #Bush41 and #Bush43 @HPMNews887 pic.twitter.com/GcPo1dKnLK
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
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2:45 p.m.
A funeral procession is making its way to Texas A&M University for the burial of former first lady Barbara Bush.
Roughly 1,500 people attended a private funeral Saturday in Houston for the wife of former President George H.W. Bush. He was among four former U.S. presidents at the service.
Barbara Bush will be laid to rest in a gated plot at her husband’s presidential library at the university in College Station, Texas. The couple’s daughter Robin is also buried there. She was 3 when she died of leukemia in 1953.
Hundreds of people are lining both sides of the street near where the procession with turn to enter campus.
Several dozen people are watching from a parking garage across the street from the university’s football and baseball stadiums, which are draped in a large American flag and a Texas flag.
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12:30 p.m.
Barbara Bush’s casket has been wheeled out of the Houston church where hundreds of people came to offer their final respects during her funeral.
Eight of her grandsons served as pallbearers. Behind them, her husband and former President George H.W. Bush followed in his wheelchair, which was pushed by their son, former President George W. Bush.
As he was pushed down the walkway in the church, George H.W. Bush shook hands with some of the people who were in the pews. In his lap, he carried his glasses and a copy of the funeral program.
Mourners sang “Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” as the family left the nation’s largest episcopal church.
Burial will follow at the Bush Library in College Station, Texas.
She will be buried next to their 3-year-old daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia in 1953
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12:15 p.m.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joked how his mother called her style of mothering him and his siblings “a benevolent dictatorship — but honestly it wasn’t always benevolent.”
Bush delivered a eulogy during the funeral for former first lady Barbara Bush, who died Tuesday at age 92.
He emphasized how one of the most important lessons she taught him and others was the power of laughter and that joy should be shared.
He choked up at one point, saying his mother — who was known for her self-deprecating remarks about her wrinkles and gray hair — was “beautiful” until the very end.
Bush said he felt privileged that he had a “front row” seat to the incredible love story that his parents shared.
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11:45 a.m.
Historian Jon Meacham says Barbara Bush is the “first lady of the greatest generation.”
Meacham spoke to hundreds of people attending the funeral Saturday for the former first lady in Houston.
He said in his eulogy that the wife of the 41st president and the mother of the 43rd was “candid and comforting, steadfast and straightforward, honest and loving.”
Meacham recalled her work bringing awareness to AIDS patients and in promoting literacy. He also spoke of her quick wit that made her so popular.
Meacham said she was devoted to her husband of 73 years, saying former President George H.W. Bush was the “only boy she ever kissed.”
Meacham wrote a 2015 biography of George H.W. Bush, who is attending the service along with many members of his family and three other former presidents. His granddaughters are providing readings during the service and his grandsons are serving as pallbearers.
Funeral service program:
Full list of celebrants:
https://twitter.com/jgm41/status/987717648564805635
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11:45 a.m.
Four former presidents joined ambassadors, sports stars and hundreds of other mourners on a gray, rainy Saturday at the private funeral for former first lady Barbara Bush, filling the nation's largest Episcopal church a day after more than 6,000 people paid their respects to the woman known by many as "America's matriarch."
Former President George H.W. Bush was helped into the cavernous sanctuary with a wheelchair behind his sons, former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and other Bush relatives to remember his wife of 73 years.
Flags were flown at half-mast for the wife of the nation's 41st president and mother of the nation's 43rd as the service began at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, as the choir sang "My Country Tis of Thee." The church is adorned with sprays of yellow garden roses, yellow snap dragons, antique hydrangeas and other flowers.
President Donald Trump isn't attending to avoid security disruptions and "out of respect for the Bush family and friends attending the service," according to the White House. He released a statement Saturday saying his "thoughts and prayers" are "with the entire Bush family."
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11 a.m.
Former President George H. W. Bush has arrived with his family at the funeral for his wife of 73 years, former first lady Barbara Bush.
The former president was helped in with a wheelchair behind his sons, former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and other Bush relatives.
Also now seated in the front of the church, in the same pew, are two other former presidents — Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — along with their wives and current first lady Melania Trump.
President Donald Trump isn’t attending the service but released a statement saying his “thoughts and prayers” are “with the entire Bush family.”
About 1,500 people are expected at the private service Saturday at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. Barbara Bush and her husband regularly worshipped at the church, which is the largest Episcopal church in the country.
Melania Trump, the Obamas and Clintons are also in attendance at the funeral service for Barbara Bush. #barbarabushfuneral pic.twitter.com/OYCi2KNpzL
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 21, 2018
Invited guests include the Clintons, the Obamas, family members of 3 other former presidents, 2 former prime ministers, and many surviving members of @GeorgeHWBush's administration #BarbaraBush @HPMNews887 pic.twitter.com/7sWtqjlyem
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
First guests arriving at St Martin's for funeral of #BarbaraBush @HPMNews887 #hounews pic.twitter.com/r5NZjz4sgl
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/savannahborn2/status/987731405252759552
One classy lady , and yes THE EPIPHANY OF REAL FEMINISM. Without making a wave.#barbarabushfuneral pic.twitter.com/gHJJ8SOpux
— Roofing Chicago M.A.D. Roofing Company woman owned (@DKatherine210) April 21, 2018
I'm watching and see @BarackObama @MichelleObama @BillClinton @HillaryClinton @GeorgeHWBush @JebBush #GeorgeWBush and even the @FLOTUS Where is Donald? No where in sight! #BarbaraBushFuneral pic.twitter.com/ebl8WDEpZZ
— Mighty Joe Young #Vaccinated (@jayoung1892) April 21, 2018
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10:30 a.m.
Guests arriving for the funeral for former first lady Barbara Bush are starting to fill the nation’s largest Episcopal church, embracing and talking beneath the church’s cavernous sanctuary.
About 1,500 people are expected at the private service Saturday at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, where Mrs. Bush and her husband, George H.W. Bush, long worshipped.
Along with the former president, three other former presidents also will attend: the couple’s son, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
A program shows that Barbara Bush’s granddaughters will offer a reading during the service and her grandsons will serve pallbearers. Her son, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will deliver a eulogy, as will longtime friend Susan Baker and historian Jon Meacham, who wrote a 2015 biography of George H.W. Bush.
Officials say more than 6,200 people came through the church Friday to pay their final respects to the former first lady, who died Tuesday at her Houston home. She was 92.
RIGHT NOW: dogs/ officers scoping out @METROHouston busses before 1500 funeral guests go through security and board. #abc13 #BarbaraBushFuneral https://t.co/ttaRneBn7g pic.twitter.com/AtOSvghCmX
— Courtney Fischer (@CourtneyABC13) April 21, 2018
Barbara Bush funeral: 1,500 people attend service in Texas #BarbaraBushfuneral https://t.co/lEFRJzUJ1Z pic.twitter.com/IbWeiBkvRp
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) April 21, 2018
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9:30 a.m.
Guests have begun to arrive at St. Martin’s Church in Houston for the funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush.
About 1,500 people are expected at Saturday’s private service, including four former presidents — Bush’s husband and son, George H.W. and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
First lady Melania Trump will be at the service, but the White House said this week that President Donald Trump wouldn’t attend “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service.”
After the service, Barbara Bush will be laid to rest in a gated plot at the Bush Library at Texas A&M University where her and her husband’s daughter Robin, who died of leukemia in 1953 at age 3, is also buried.
Thousands of people on Friday paid respects to Bush, who died Tuesday at her Houston home at age 92.
First invited guests arriving at St Martin's by shuttle bus from Second Baptist. Raining intermittently. Helicopter circling above church #BarbaraBush @HPMNews887
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
Eulogists for #BarbaraBush include son former FL Gov Jeb Bush, friend Susan Baker, and biographer @jmeacham #hounews @HPMNews887 pic.twitter.com/iHJEKdQSC4
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
St Martin's Episcopal Church, 7:45 AM, day of #BarbaraBush's funeral. Family and dignitaries – including the Clintons, Obamas, Melania Trump – will arrive through private entrance @HPMNews887 pic.twitter.com/mjiHMMSPCt
— Andrew Schneider (@ASchneider_HPM) April 21, 2018
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12:05 a.m.
Some 1,500 guests are expected to attend a private funeral for Barbara Bush at the nation’s largest Episcopal church.
First lady Melania Trump, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, and former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, are among those expected to attend the invitation-only service at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. Burial will follow at the Bush Library in College Station, Texas.
Son and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, longtime friend Susan Baker and historian Jon Meacham, who wrote a 2015 biography of George H.W. Bush, will deliver eulogies.
Thousands of people on Friday paid respects to Barbara Bush, wife of the nation’s 41st president and mother of the nation’s 43rd. Bush died Tuesday at her Houston home. She was 92.
"How ‘bout that! I've been kissed by the best!" Watch the exciting moment Barbara Bush surprised Willard Scott with a kiss during the 1989 inaugural parade for President George H.W. Bush pic.twitter.com/ya9wBByMQG
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 18, 2018
