Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures President George H.W. Bush attends the Republican National Convention in Houston in 1992. Bush dedicated his life to serving others and held many different roles in government, the highest being President. Hide Caption 1 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush is pictured with his sister, Mercy, in 1929. He was born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts. Their father, Prescott Bush, was a successful Wall Street banker who became a US senator in 1952. Hide Caption 2 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush sits in his VT-51 Avenger in 1945. Two years earlier, he became the youngest pilot in the US Navy. He flew 58 combat missions in World War II and was awarded three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hide Caption 3 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures After the war, Bush attended Yale University and played baseball there from 1945 to 1948. He was team captain. Hide Caption 4 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Before he entered politics, Bush made a fortune drilling for oil in Texas. He created the Zapata Offshore Co., which introduced a new era in the drilling industry. Hide Caption 5 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush is pictured with his wife, Barbara, during his first campaign for Congress. He represented Texas' 7th District from 1967 to 1971, and he was appointed to the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Hide Caption 6 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush represents the United States at the United Nations in 1971. He served as US Ambassador from that year until 1973. Hide Caption 7 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush sits with members of his family in 1971. He met his wife at a country club dance in 1941, and they were married in 1945. They had six children. Hide Caption 8 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Under President Gerald Ford, Bush served as the chief liaison to China in 1975. Here, Bush greets well-wishers in Beijing. Hide Caption 9 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Ford meets with Bush in December 1975 to talk to about Bush taking over as director of Central Intelligence. Hide Caption 10 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures The Bushes stand with Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, in 1980. Bush lost to Reagan in the primaries but became his running mate. Hide Caption 11 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush and House Speaker Tip O'Neill listen to Reagan deliver his second State of the Union address in 1983. Hide Caption 12 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Reagan shakes hands with Bush in 1988. Bush served as Reagan's vice president from 1981 to 1989, and he would succeed him as President. Hide Caption 13 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures The Bushes pose for a 1986 photo in Kennebunkport, Maine. Hide Caption 14 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures The Reagans and the Bushes join hands after President Reagan endorsed Bush's presidential run at a dinner in 1988. Hide Caption 15 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush poses for a photo with real estate mogul and future President Donald Trump during a campaign event in 1988. Hide Caption 16 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush debates Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis in 1988. Hide Caption 17 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush joins supporters in Houston after learning he had defeated Dukakis in the presidential election. Hide Caption 18 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Shortly after winning the election, Bush casts a line while surf fishing in Gulf Stream, Florida. Hide Caption 19 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev takes in the New York skyline with Reagan and Bush in 1988. Hide Caption 20 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush was sworn into office as the 41st president of the United States on January 20, 1989. First lady Barbara Bush holds the Bible for her husband while Chief Justice William Rehnquist administers the oath of office. Hide Caption 21 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures President Bush delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on January 31, 1990. Hide Caption 22 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush holds up a plastic bag with crack cocaine during a televised speech about drugs in 1989. Weeks later it was revealed that government agents had bought the drugs from a dealer in front of the White House for the purpose of Bush's speech. Hide Caption 23 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush hosted Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid leader and future president, at the White House in June 1990. Hide Caption 24 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush and the first lady wave goodbye to US Marines and British troops after a Thanksgiving Day visit to Saudi Arabia in 1990. Hide Caption 25 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush and Colin Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speak on separate phones in February 1991 while Joint Chiefs John Sununu, Robert Gates and Brent Scowcroft listen to a conversation about halting the Gulf War. Hide Caption 26 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush, at his vacation home in Kennebunkport, meets with Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991. Bush also appointed Justice David Souter in 1990. Hide Caption 27 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush plays golf with tennis player Andre Agassi in 1991. Hide Caption 28 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush and Gorbachev shake hands at the end of a news conference in Moscow in July 1991. Hide Caption 29 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures From left, Presidents Bush, Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon stand together at the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Library in 1991. It was the first time five presidents gathered in one place. Hide Caption 30 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle join hands at the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston. They are joined by their wives, Marilyn Quayle and Barbara Bush. Hide Caption 31 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush checks his watch during a 1992 presidential debate with Ross Perot, right, and Bill Clinton. The memorable moment was interpreted as the President being out of touch. Hide Caption 32 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush takes a last look around the Oval Office with his dog, Ranger, before vacating the White House for Bill Clinton. Hide Caption 33 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush's eldest son, George Walker Bush, was elected President in 2000. They became the second father-son duo in history to hold the office (the first being John Adams and John Quincy Adams). The two Georges hug here moments after the youngest was sworn in on January 20, 2001. Hide Caption 34 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures With his father by his side, President George W. Bush sits at his desk in the Oval Office for the first time on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001. Hide Caption 35 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush rides a Segway at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 2003. Hide Caption 36 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Celebrating his 80th birthday in 2004, Bush performs one of two skydiving jumps he completed with the Army Golden Knights. Hide Caption 37 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed his father and Bill Clinton to lead fundraising efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Hide Caption 38 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush arrives on the South Lawn of the White House in 2008. Hide Caption 39 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures President Barack Obama presents Bush with the Medal of Freedom in February 2011. "His life is a testament that public service is a noble calling. ... His humility and his decency reflects the very best of the American spirit," Obama said. Hide Caption 40 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Barbara Bush kisses her husband as they arrive for the 2012 premiere of a documentary about his life. Hide Caption 41 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush, in the wheelchair, arrives for the dedication of his son's presidential library in Dallas in 2013. Joining him, from left, are President Barack Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Hide Caption 42 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush holds up his wife's hand at a Republican presidential debate in 2016. One of their sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, was among the candidates in the debate. Hide Caption 43 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures The Bushes participate in the ceremonial coin toss before the Super Bowl in 2017. Hide Caption 44 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush was admitted to a hospital in April 2017 for an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia. This photo of him and his son George was posted to Twitter. "Big morale boost from a high level delegation. No father has ever been more blessed, or prouder," the elder Bush wrote about the photo. Hide Caption 45 of 47

Photos: President George H.W. Bush's life in pictures Bush joins former presidents and first ladies at the funeral ceremony for his wife in April 2018. Behind Bush, from left, are Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and current first lady Melania Trump. Hide Caption 46 of 47