Lunsford entered the U.S. Army in July 1970 at Fort Knox, Kentucky and completed a three year enlistment.  After his release from the Army he completed his civilian education and started his civilian career. He enlisted in the Army Reserve in June 1981 and was appointed a Warrant Officer in 1984. He served two tours in Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002 and 2003. He retired with 27 years of service in the Army and Army Reserve in 2005 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his dedicated service. He achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4.  

Lunsford retired from Kentucky State Government in September 2007. He was a juvenile counselor and administrator with Children’s Residential Services for nine years and a certified (CRC) vocational rehabilitation counselor and administrator with the Kentucky Office for the Blind for 21 years.  

Lunsford enjoys hunting, playing golf and playing with his grandchildren. He is a member of the following organizations:

Estill County Historical and Genealogical Society

Men for Christ

National Rifle Association

Reserve Officer’s Association

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Russell Lunsford was born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 19, 1950, where he attended and graduated from Pleasure Ridge Park High School in 1968.  He attended Lindsey Wilson College in 1970 and Elizabethtown Community College (’74). He completed his education at Western Kentucky University and has a Bachelor Degree in Sociology (’76) and a Masters in Guidance and Counseling (’78).

Janice Loy and Russell married in October 1970 and moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky in 1972.  They presently split their time between their home in Elizabethtown and their farm in Columbia, Kentucky. They have three children, Sharon Morris (Jeffrey), David (Leigh), and Tina Lunsford and six grandchildren, Jesse, Jenna, Joshua, Scarlett, Olivia and Matthew. They are members of the First Christian Church in Elizabethtown.