The Todd County Funeral Home is honored to have been called to serve the family of Mr. Malcolm Rust.
Malcolm Rust age 82 of Allensville passed away on Wednesday evening December 13th, 2023, at the Northcrest Medical Center in Springfield, Tennessee.
He was born July 15th, 1941, in Todd County son of the late Roland and Martha Sisk Rust.
He was a graduate of the Todd County High School, class of 1960, then studied at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry / Biology he went on to finish his education at the George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee where he completed his master’s degree. He held many certifications as a Registered Sanitarian / Environmental Health Specialist with the Cabinet of Health Services Department of Public Health with the State of Kentucky, Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems Inspector with the Kentucky Department of Public Health, Core Training Program Food Safety Branch of the Kentucky Department of Public Health, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Department of Agronomy.
Mr. Rust taught Biological Science at Haines Junior High School in St. Charles, Illinois. He and his family then moved to Nashville and he accepted a position with Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee from 1969 – 1973, he then opened Wayside Garden Centers (three locations) in Nashville from 1974 – 1994, during his time in Nashville he and his wife hosted the WSMV, News Channel 4 show “Channel 4 Magazine Garden Expert from 1984 – 1989, he then produced and was the co-host of the WDCN Public Television program “Volunteer Gardener”.
While living in Nashville he and his wife opened the Wayside Garden Centers (three locations from 1974 – 1994, Mr. Rust led his family back to their roots in Kentucky and purchased the “Pepper Place” a historic home in Allensville, Kentucky where they did extensive renovations and opened a Bed and Breakfast at the historic home offering catering and furniture restoration, he also served as the Todd County Environmentalist for the Todd County Health Department.
Mr. Rust was honored to be a member of the Allensville Church of Christ where he served as a Deacon from 1999 – 2005, he ministered and taught at the Jason Ridge Church of Christ in Lewisburg, Kentucky 2004 – 2019 while living in Nashville he was a member and Deacon at the Brook Meade Church of Christ in Nashville 1975 – 1980. He was a Keynote speaker at the Master Gardeners State Conference in Clarksville, Tennessee, an Honorary Master Gardener for the University of Tennessee in Nashville, and Extraordinary Service and Achievement with the National Federation of Garden Clubs. He also served as the President of the Nashville Nurserymen Association, Davidson County Primary Board, Republican Chairman, Davidson County Republican Primary Winner, and Candidate for the House of Representatives.
Mr. Rust was preceded in death by his parents as well as three brothers Charles, Robert, and Naron Rust as well as four sisters Lillian Knowles, Ruth Robertson, Nancy Turner, and Peggy Snydor. He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years Mary Rust of Allensville and three sons Ralph Rust (Jennifer of Nashville, Tennessee, Roger Rust (Rhonda) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and Patrick Rust of Allensville. Also surviving is one brother James Rust of Madisonville and one sister Cynthia Templeman of Elkton. There are seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren surviving.
The Rust family will be receiving friends at the Allensville Church of Christ on Monday, December 18th from 11:00 until funeral service time at 1:00. Funeral service will be conducted at the Allensville Church of Christ with Justin Adams and Marshall Allen officiating. Interment to follow at the Belmont Cemetery in Allensville.
