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Putnam County emergency personnel paid their respects to retired Rescue Squad Director Russ Cyphers during his funeral Wednesday.
Rescue Squad Public Information Officer Daniel Harris said Cyphers played a significant role in Putnam County’s emergency response efforts.
“Russ is one of those that you can’t put into words how much you’re going to miss,” Harris said. “He was such an asset to our department even after he retired. He’s going to be greatly missed. We know he’s in a better place, but we’re going to miss him tremendously along with everybody else in emergency services and friends and family that knew him.”
Cyphers passed away Sunday at the age of 94. He served as the rescue squad director for 27 years until his retirement in 2003.
“Russ never met a stranger,” Harris said. “Russ will be remembered for always being there, no matter what.”
Harris, who joined the rescue squad at the age of 17 in 2002, said Cyphers will always be remembered by the rescue squad as “555”.
“That was Russ’s radio number with the rescue squad,” Harris said. “He’s going to be remembered by everybody for the smile he would give, the attitude that he brought to everything, and he would always make you laugh no matter what it was.”
Cyphers began his career with the rescue squad during the 1950s and helped establish the Putnam County Fire Department.
Cyphers, who served three years in the United States Air Force, will be buried with military honors at Dodson Chapel Cemetery in Rickman.
