Cy Adrian Russum
Cy Adrian Russum was born Nov. 25, 1939 at home in the Elliot “Bugscuffle”, Texas community to Leonard Kermit “Pete” Russum and Lydia Leanna Hunt Russum. He passed away on Feb. 28, in Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at First United Methodist Church of Archer City with Ricky Bacon of Grape Creek, David Goforth and Herb Bernhardt, both of Lake Kickapoo, officiating. Cremation arrangements were under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City. Immediately following the service the family will have a gathering at the Party Barn located at 451 North Lake Road at Lake Kickapoo.
Cy joined the U.S. Army on Jan. 19, 1959 as an aircraft mechanic rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E6). He then applied for and completed Warrant Officer Candidate School and continued his life lone passion of flying (rotary and fixed wing), and aircraft maintenance. Over his twenty-six-year career in Army Aviation, he achieved the highest rank (at the time) of Chief Warrant Officer 4, served as a Maintenance Test Pilot, and Standardization Instructor Pilot. His proudest achievement was being designated a Master Army Aviator, and the Award of Honor for 5000 accident-free flight hours. Cy served more than nineteen years overseas including two tours in Vietnam, and seventeen years in Germany culminating in eight years at the United States Army Europe Aviation Safety and Standardization Board. His highest awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Air Medal (26), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm (2nd Award), Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Legion of Merit, which he received at his retirement ceremony in 1985.
While stationed in Germany, Cy met Isolde Laidig and they were married on Dec. 16, 1979.
He returned to the United States in 1995 and moved to Lake Kickapoo to be near his family. He worked for the Brantley Helicopter Factory in Vernon for ten years as the Quality Control Manager and later became the Vice President of the company. He was the FAA Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative for the period of 1996 to 2005. He and “his partner in crime”, Gary Jones, were the official handy men at the lake. They were at all times ready and able to help anyone in need. He was always working on a project. In Germany, he worked on clocks and had a basement full of clocks.
Cy loved his country, his family and Willie’s Road house Country Music. He enjoyed having family gatherings at his Party Barn. He hosted the Wednesday Evening Happy Hour with his friends each week at the Party Barn.
Cy was a Lutheran and was active in the Lutheran youth group at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harrold, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Dolores Shawver. He is survived by his wife, Isolde of Schwabish Hall, Germany; his daughter, Yvette Benz of Immanuel-Hohlbauch, Germany; his daughter, Manuela and son-in-law, Bettina of Vellberg, Germany; grandchildren, Silas and Hanna Laidig of Vellberg, Germany and Robin Laidig and wife, Debby of Stuttgart, Germany. He is also survived by his siblings, Melba Gardner and Earlene Pate of Lake Kickapoo; several nieces and nephews, special friends, Lauretta Deane of Wichita Falls and Shirley Watts of Vernon and Fred.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Wichita Falls for their compassionate care of Cy and suggest in lieu of flowers memorials be given to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310, the Lake Kickapoo Volunteer Fire Department, 12442 FM 368 South, Holliday, Texas 76366 or any Veteran support organization.
