Greensburg — Albert M. Rust, Jr., 95, national champion swimmer, World War II Navy veteran and Indiana landscaper, 95, formerly of Zionsville, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 at Aspen Place Health Campus in Greensburg.

He was born Nov. 22, 1917, the oldest of 11 children, to Albert M. Rust Sr. and Sadie (McCutcheon) Rust.

Mr. Rust swam in the 1936 and 1937 National Swimming Championships. He received All-American recognition for winning first place in the 50-yard freestyle and finishing third in the 100- and 220-yard freestyle.  The Jack Schafer Memorial Trophy was retired to Al Rust in 1956. He won this trophy by scoring the highest points in the City Swimming Championships for six consecutive years, from 1935 to 1940.

During World War II, he was in charge of the naval gun crew aboard the SS Thomas McKean.

His ship was sunk by the German submarine, U505. He spent nine and a half days in a lifeboat. Mr. Rust was awarded a commendation for carrying an unconscious seaman to safety. The U505 is on permanent exhibition at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. A videotaped interview of Al Rust is part of the museum’s historical records.

In 1940, he founded A.M. Rust Landscape, Inc. He was the President of the Indianapolis Landscape Association in 1957. For 11 years, his company designed and built a feature garden for the Indianapolis Flower and Patio Show.

Mr. Rust was a member of the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite, the Charles Frank Masonic Lodge 760, and the American Legion John Holliday Post 186. He belonged to the Indianapolis Landscape Association, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Horticulture Society, the Murat Shrine and the Zionsville Antique Car Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty (Clemons) Rust and his son, Ken Rust.

Survivors include daughter Judy (Frank) Bodwell, of Hebron, Ky.; four grandchildren: Scott Walker, Chris Walker and Ali Rust of Indianapolis, and Robin Rust, of Carthage; three great-grandchildren: Miles, Madison, and Ellie Walker; four sisters and one brother.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home in Greensburg with a Masonic Service to follow at noon.  

Interment with military honors will be held in South Park Cemetery in Greensburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Murat Shrine Children’s Hospital, 510 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, or to the American Legion Post 186, 5868 E. 71st St., Ste. E, Box 186, Indianapolis, IN 46220.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.popfuneralhome.com.