T. Bush, 79; Financial Writer, Editor, Publicist

Thomas W. Bush, a reporter, editor and public relations representative in Los Angeles for 30 years, died at his home in Peoria, Ariz., on Saturday. He was 79.

Bush, who had heart disease, won a Loeb special achievement award for financial reporting in 1965 for a Los Angeles Times series on the California savings and loan business.

Before joining The Times, Bush was a reporter for the Los Angeles bureau of the Wall Street Journal. He left The Times in 1969 to become business editor of the Hollywood Citizen-News. After the paper ceased publication, he joined the Los Angeles bureau of Business Week in 1971. Bush was hired as a public relations specialist by Hughes Aircraft’s space and communications group in 1977, where he remained until 1982, when he became business editor of the Hartford (Conn.) Courant. He returned to Los Angeles in 1984 as editor of Investor’s Daily, now Investor’s Business Daily. He retired in 1988.

Bush was a native of Hoquiam, Wash., and a graduate of the University of Washington.

Survivors include his wife, Audre, son Christopher and two grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.