Russell Anthony “Rusty” Bottomley, 61, of Center Point, Indiana, passed away on March 23, 2025, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Rusty was born to the late Peter R. and Janet E. (Deitrick) Bottomley on March 6, 1964, in Defiance, Ohio. Rusty attended East Noble High School in Kendallville, Indiana, graduating in 1982. During the summer of 1982, Rusty was a member of The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, playing the bass drum. After high school he attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, graduating with a BA in Music Education in 1986.
On June 27, 2009, he married Dana Rahe in Indianapolis.
Rusty was a music teacher and band director for over 30 years, starting his career in Clay City in 1987. He taught there from 1987-1996, leading the marching band to five Class D State Championships in 1988, 1989,1992,1993, and 1994. The Clay City marching band was also State runner-up in both 1990 and 1991. Rusty was next assistant band director at Gibson Southern High School from 1996-1999. While there, the marching band placed 6th in 1996 and 3rd in 1998 in Class C State Championships, and the concert band won 5th place at the state level in 1999. From 1999-2006, Rusty taught at Owen Valley High School where he won an Indiana Percussion Association Open Class State Championship in 2001. His final teaching assignment was as assistant director at Northview High School in Brazil, Indiana from 2006-2015. During his tenure there, Northview’s marching band won Class B State Championships in both 2008 and 2009. Rusty also directed Northview’s percussion ensemble, winning three Class A State Percussion Championships in 2008, 2012, and 2013. He continued teaching for Clay Community Schools until retiring in 2019.
One of Rusty’s biggest accomplishments during his career was co-founding the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) in 1996. He was also IPA president-elect in 2001-2002, IPA president in 2003-2004, and IPA past president in 2005-2006. As recently as this past year, he was an active member of the IPA board of directors.
Rusty was also involved in helping numerous other music groups over the years. He was a consultant for Edgewood High School, helping them win three Class A Indiana Percussion Association Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Rusty organized the youth “Junk Yard Jam” clinic for young percussion enthusiasts for several years.
He was also commissioned to compose an original piece of music entitled “Jabberwocky” for East Noble Middle School in Kendallville, Indiana in 2006. Composing music was one of Rusty’s favorite hobbies, and he composed music for many groups across the country.
Rusty was the recipient of many awards and accolades over the course of his career. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu music fraternity in 2003. He was also inducted into the inaugural class of the Indiana Percussion Association Hall of Fame in 2016. While director at Clay City High School, the marching band participated in the inaugural parade for President George H.W. Bush. Rusty’s most distinguished award was being a recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest civilian honor, awarded to him by Gov. Evan Bayh.
Rusty is survived by his wife of 15 years, Dana Bottomley of Center Point, Indiana. He is also survived by sister Dr. Kim (Mark) Harris of Brownsburg, Indiana; brother Doug Bottomley of Kendallville, Indiana; nieces Kansas Bottomley of Columbus, Indiana and Addison Bottomley of Auburn, Indiana; and father-in-law Phil Rahe of Anderson, Indiana.
Visitation is scheduled for Monday, March 31 from 3-8 pm at Lawson-Miller Chapel funeral home in Brazil, Indiana. Funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1 at 1 pm with visitation from 12-1 pm, also at Lawson-Miller Chapel funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-rusty-bottomley-scholarship-fund?attribution_id=sl:29cc8ee0-7fd9-414e-a13e-524b2cb7e2e2&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_t1-amp14_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
