At the age of 94 years, 171 days, Bush was the longest-lived president in U.S. history at the time of his death, a record which has since been surpassed by Jimmy Carter.

Irish tenor Ronan Tynan came and sang two songs for Bush, as his family and friends gathered at the household or were placed on speakerphone calls to say their goodbyes.

I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President George H.W.

[17][18] Former president Barack Obama said that "George H. W. Bush's life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling.

From the moment I met him as a young governor invited to his home in Kennebunkport, I was struck by the kindness he showed to Chelsea, by his innate genuine decency, and by his devotion to Barbara, his children, and their growing brood."

As also provided for by regulation, the corps of cadets of the United States Military Academy are to be immediately assembled to be officially informed of the death by the superintendent.

[34] Later that day, on an overlook near the Bush Compound in Maine, people spontaneously gathered to lay flowers, among them including former University of Massachusetts president Jack M.

[35] A makeshift memorial of flowers, flags, and cards was also created by members of the public outside the gates of Bush's Houston home.

[36] The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas announced on December 1 that it would immediately lay out a book of condolence for members of the public to sign.

H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home in Houston to a waiting hearse which then proceeded along a specially closed stretch of Interstate 610 to Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.

[44] The hearse was escorted by Houston Police Department motorcycle outriders and arrived on the runway by approximately 11:45 a.m. Central Standard Time.

[45] The casket proceeded through a ramp guard composed of U.S. armed forces personnel into a waiting Cadillac XTS Echelon hearse for transfer to the United States Capitol.

The officiating clergy included Michael Bruce Curry, Mariann Edgar Budde, Randolph Marshall Hollerith, and Dr. Russell Levenson Jr. Rosemarie Logan Duncan was the master of ceremonies.

[49] Presidential children in attendance included Lynda Bird Johnson Robb with Chuck Robb, Luci Baines Johnson with Ian Turpin, Tricia Nixon Cox with Edward F. Cox, Susan Ford, Chelsea Clinton, former Florida governor Jeb Bush (Bush's younger son), and Ivanka Trump with Jared Kushner.

[57] Former Secretaries of States such as Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and John Kerry as well as Prince Charles, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Peyton Manning also attended.

[62] The coffin was lifted, turned, and borne out of the cathedral to Ralph Vaughan Williams's 1906 hymn For All the Saints, Who From Their Labor Rest (Sine nomine) as five U.S. presidents stood in respect.

[citation needed] Bush's remains arrived at Ellington Field at December 5, 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time where they were greeted by a military escort, transported to St. Martin's Episcopal Church and laid in repose until the following morning.

"[65] After the church service, the remains were driven by hearse to the Union Pacific Railroad Westfield Auto Facility and transported by special railway funeral car to the George H.W.

[67][68] A guard of honor formed by the Ross Volunteers, the Governor of Texas' military escort, attended the removal of the casket from the funeral train.

Special agents of Bush's former United States Secret Service protective detail served as honorary pallbearers during the movement of the casket from the funeral home in Houston to the hearse that would transport it to Ellington Field.

[45] A further thirteen honorary pallbearers were selected for the transport of the casket from the hearse to the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, all of whom were former ship or strike group commanders of USS George H.W.

[76][71][77] Captain Sean R. Bailey, the ship's commanding officer at the time of Bush's death, was unable to serve as an honorary pallbearer as the vessel was making final preparations for deployment.

[71] Honorary pallbearers serving during the movement of the casket at points during Stage 3 included Charles F. Hermann (Scowcroft Chair in International Policy Studies at the Bush School of Government and Public Service), Amy Sharp (president of the Texas A&M University Student Government Association), and former Texas A&M football coach R. C.