Carl Bush Sr. was found dead on the 500 block of Reynolds Street around 3:30 a.m., investigators said in an email. No other details were released.
Carl Bush Jr. described his father as a kind man who doted on his three grandchildren in the same manner he showed affection toward his only son.
He said the family is still puzzled about why Bush was downtown at that hour.
"It's kind of sketchy right now," he said.
Bush raised his son in Johnston, S.C., before moving to Augusta. The younger Bush has fond memories of visiting amusement parks with his father as a child and learning to hunt and fish.
The elder Bush always enjoyed fixing cars and was currently working as a mechanic on cars that the Salvation Army auctions.
Calls to Richmond County investigators have not been returned today.
