Holmes County Navy Veteran and Rubbermaid Employee Russel Zickefoose Dies at 96

Russel J. Zickefoose, 96, a Navy veteran and longtime Rubbermaid employee, died peacefully on Dec. 25, 2025, at Sycamore Nursing Home. Born Dec. 5, 1929, in Alton, W.V., Russel graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1948 and later served in the U.S. Navy before building a career that anchored his life in the community.

Russel worked for Rubbermaid for 39 years, retiring in 1991. That span of employment reflects the manufacturing-era careers that supported many Holmes County families and shaped local economic stability. For neighbors who remember lunchroom conversations, company anniversaries, and retirement parties, Russel’s passing is a reminder of the generations who built livelihoods in factories and kept community institutions running.

Outside of work, Russel enjoyed outdoor activities, woodworking and camping. He was an avid West Holmes sports fan, a familiar presence at local games and school events. Russel married Freada Weaver on Nov. 25, 1955, and his family life, hobbies and civic presence tied him to multiple corners of county life for decades.

Russel’s death at Sycamore Nursing Home underscores ongoing community concerns about long-term care and services for older adults and veterans. As Holmes County’s population ages, families rely increasingly on nursing homes, home-based care and veteran support programs. Russel’s story illustrates both the value of those supports and the need for accessible, quality options close to home for people who served in the military and later joined the local workforce.

Local civic groups and health providers can look to examples like Russel’s to assess gaps in veteran outreach, caregiver resources and eldercare capacity. Workers who spend decades in manufacturing may face distinct health and social needs as they age; recognizing that link matters for planning county health services and for ensuring equitable access to care.

Surviving family, funeral and visitation details were listed in the published notice. Community members who knew Russel through work, school and West Holmes athletics are likely to mark his passing and remember the steady presence he represented.

Russel J. Zickefoose’s life, rooted in service, steady employment and community engagement, serves as a prompt for Holmes County to honor older residents and veterans not only in memory but through sustained investment in local health services, long-term care and veteran supports that keep families whole for the next generation.