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Longtime Warren County township trustee dies

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By Staff report 8:48 PM Monday, June 15, 2009

Russell Kilburn, who served 28 years as a Union Twp. trustee and was known throughout Warren County for his dedicated community service, died Monday, June 15.

Kilburn, 85, died at his home in South Lebanon after battling a lengthy illness, according to Union Twp. Fire Chief Bob Napier.

Having served several communities, the county and the state for more than 30 years, Kilburn retired as Union Twp. trustee in 2007 after serving seven terms.

“You’ll never find a more dedicated individual to this community,” said Napier, who was taught Sunday school class by Kilburn as a young man at First Baptist of South Lebanon.

In 1927 at age 3, Kilburn and his family relocated from Lee County, Ky., to Warren County, where the family began farming. Kilburn and his wife of 48 years, Vandwilla (Hackman) Kilburn, later owned a farm in Union Twp. The couple sold it in 2007 and moved to the village.

In the 1980s under then sheriff Robert G. Dalton, Kilburn became a special deputy with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office while serving on the township board. Later, continuing his duties as a trustee for Union Twp., Kilburn served for 12 years as police chief for the village of Morrow.

Friends and family agree that he and his wife are both Bible scholars. For many years Kilburn was requested to offer a prayer before the start of each Morrow council and Union Twp. trustee meeting. It is a request he always consented to.

When Kilburn took office in Union Twp. three decades ago, one of his and fellow trustees’ objectives was to obtain the first new life squad for the Union Twp./South Lebanon Fire Department, an accomplishment the current fire chief appreciates.

“He has been missed every day has not been a trustee,” said Napier, who added Kilburn will always be known for his giving.

“I think everyone who knew him called him Uncle Russell. He was always that person who would give everything he could.”

In addition to his elected and appointed offices, Kilburn helped form the Warren County Trustee and Clerks Association and was president of the organization for four years. He also served on the Warren County Republican Party executive committee.

Services are pending at Stine Kilburn Funeral Home in Lebanon.

Linda Scott contributed to this story.

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Death can not erase the fond memories we hold dear and the mark Russell made on anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. We can hear his soft voice, see the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face. We treasure the example he set for all of us.

Charles & Dorothy Johnson
10:16 PM, 6/16/2009

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He set a standard that everyone should shoot for. He knew what mattered in life, not possessions but relationships. He gave the prayer at our family renunion for years and years. We will miss him.

Jeff Johnson
9:18 AM, 6/16/2009

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