Donald “Ben” Cypher, 86, of Saxonburg, has answered his last Alarm and Roll Call on May 6, 2021.
Born October 31, 1934 in Marwood, PA, he was the son of McCurdy Cypher and Pearl V. Knoch.
Ben proudly served his country in the US Marien Corps in Korea from 1953-1956.
Ben was President and Chief Investigator, 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 2015-2017. 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 fire fighting. 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, NY, Douglas (Margaret) Cypher of Carlsbad, CA, Danielle (David) Vaughan of Butler, Dayne (Kelli) Cypher of Sarver and Benjamin (Melissa) Cypher of Alta Loma, CA, 9 grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Schultz, Jeremy (Jessica) Cypher, Garrett Cypher, Leah (Sean) McQuillan, Marc Vaughan, Tori Vaughan, Rylee, Regan and Remington Cypher, 5 great-grandchildren, Hayden, Jillian, Jackson, Cameron and Grayson, and a great-granddaughter on the way.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Raymond and Charles Cypher and his first wife, Jacqueline Lefevre Cypher.
Friends will be received on Monday, May 10, 2021, from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Fox Funeral Home, Inc., Saxonburg, PA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 10:00 am at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish (St. Joseph Church) , with Fr. Ward Stakem officiating.
Interment will be at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.
Memorial donations may be made to the Marine Corps League PO Box 511 Lyndora, Pa 16045 or the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Co. 210 Horne Ave. Saxonburg, PA 16056. www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com