SILENT KEY                       It is with Sadness:                         SILENT KEY

K1BIX – Russell E. “Rusty” Plush
December 11, 1945 – August 17, 2021

Russell E. “Rusty” Plush, 75, of Palmyra, passed away on Tuesday August 17, 2021 at The Middletown Home. Long time CPRA member and former Board Member Rusty K1BIX has lost his fight with Cancer at 05:15 on 8/17/21.

Rusty was born in Lebanon on December 11, 1945 to the late Russell and Ada Plush. He was preceded in death by his sister, Harriett Lee. He is survived by friends, especially in the HAM radio community.

He worked for over 35 years at Colonial Craft Kitchens Cabinetry in Palmyra as a master woodworker.

Rusty’s passion was anything to do with Amateur (HAM) Radio where he was better known by his FCC call sign, K1BIX. He was active in numerous clubs and organizations including the ARRL, Appalachian Amateur Radio Group, Inc., CPRA and was a long-time director/member of the Lebanon Valley Society of Radio Amateurs and a trustee for the Cornwall Ranger Station Amateur Radio Club, LLC. He was an Air Force MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) operator at FT Indiantown Gap

He was a liaison to Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for Cornwall Mountain. Rusty particularly enjoyed spending his later years at the Ranger Station Cabin on the Cornwall Mountain. Additionally he enjoyed dressing up in the “Smokey the Bear” costume and interacting with children while representing DCNR programs at National Night Out and other public events. His passion was spending time at the ranger station cabin working on ham radio.

A graveside service will be led by his friend, the Rev. Robert A. Howard and held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 10AM at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, 235 E. Maple Street, Lebanon, PA. Everyone will meet right at the gravesite.

One of Rusty’s final wishes was to be able to be buried and not cremated. Unfortunately he doesn’t have life insurance or enough assets to pay for a funeral/burial. We did setup a gofundme to help us fulfill Rusty’s wishes any amount helps. Link is:  https://gofund.me/c73d25a9