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Donald Cypher Obituary
Born Oct. 31, 1934, in Marwood, Pa., he was the son of McCurdy Cypher and Pearl V. Knoch.
Ben proudly served his country from 1953 until 1956, in the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea.
Ben was president and chief investigator of Donald B. Cypher and Associates Inc., Fire Cause and Origin Investigations, which he started in 1976.
He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish (St. Joseph Church) in Cabot.
He was a life member of the Marine Corps League Bantam Detachment 743, and served as commandant from 2015 to 2017. He was a 65-year member of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department, having served many positions, including ladder captain and chief. He was active as a firefighter for 62 years, until his health issues required his retirement from active firefighting. He was past president and life member of the International Association of Arson Investigators.
In 1968, Ben became the first state master fire instructor in Butler County, and taught all phases of firefighting and fire investigation. He became the first chief of the Butler County Community College Fire Training Facility in 2002.
In 2015, he was honored by being named as the Butler County Veteran of the Year. He volunteered at the Butler VA for many years.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Lou (Carbin) Cypher, whom he married June 27, 1981; his children, Donald (Gayle) Cypher of Owls Head, N.Y., Douglas (Margaret) Cypher of Carlsbad, Calif., Danielle (David) Vaughan of Butler, Dayne (Kelli) Cypher of Sarver, and Benjamin (Melissa) Cypher of Alta Loma, Calif.; nine grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Schultz, Jeremy (Jessica) Cypher, Garrett Cypher, Leah (Sean) McQuillan, Marc Vaughan, Tori Vaughan, and Rylee, Regan and Remington Cypher; five great-grandchildren, Hayden, Jillian, Jackson, Cameron and Grayson; and a great-granddaughter on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Raymond and Charles Cypher; and his first wife, Jacqueline Lefevre Cypher.
CYPHER - Friends of Donald "Ben" Cypher, who died Thursday, May 6, 2021, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Fox Funeral Home, 410 W. Main St., Saxonburg.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (St. Joseph Church) with the Rev. Ward Stakem officiating.
Interment will be held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Memorial donations may be made to the Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 511, Lyndora, PA 16045, or the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, 210 Horne Ave., Saxonburg, PA 16056.
Please visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Peg & I.J. Kranats (Past President 2001-2002)
May 17, 2021
Mary Lou and family,
I was so sorry to learn of Ben's passing. I did not learn details until 16 May 2021. You all have our deepest sympathies. Ben was a mentor of mine, as I was traveling through the chairs of IAAI. He was instrumental in my serving on the T & E committee, in the early days. I think he may have had second thoughts about that. LOL However, we remain close throughout the years and I'll always regret not staying in touch with him as much as I should have. He will certainly remain in my memory. Semper Fi Brother!!!
Tina Palicki
May 14, 2021
My deepest condolences to you and the family. You are in my prayers.
Rose
May 13, 2021
Mary Lou and Family, Please accept our deepest condolences on Ben's passing. Will miss seeing him at church.
May he rest in peace,
Greg & Rose Schnitgen
Tim, Jennifer & Corey Simpson
May 10, 2021
You honored God with the life you lived
We know you don’t regret it.
To your country, you gave your best and we thank you for your sacrifice.
To your family, you were provider, protector, and the spice of life.
They will cry, laugh and be insanely proud each time they hear your name.
You meant so much to so many that the impact of how you lived, whether it was volunteering or serving the many organizations you were involved with, will be felt for generations.
So, thank you for what you have given.
May the angels lead you safely into heaven Ben.
Semper Fidelis!
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dave metz
May 7, 2021
Dave from station 16 my deepest condolences on your loss of ben he was a great friend and he will be severely missed in the fire fighting world and by his friends
John Briney
May 7, 2021
Mary Lou and Family: Offering my deepest condolences in your loss of Ben. A truly, well respected gentleman who will be missed by so many.
Brother Marine, McKeesport, Pa.
May 7, 2021
Semper Fi Marine. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. R.I.P.
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410 W. Main St P.O. Box 305, Saxonburg, PA 16056
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