West Virginia State Firemen's Association

Zachary Taylor “Zach” Whitacre, 21, of Gore, VA, died on Monday, February 13, 2012 at Winchester Medical Center in the line of duty as result of a traffic accident.

Zach was born on November 13, 1990 in Winchester, VA. He was a Volunteer Firefighter for Gore Vol. Fire & Rescue, Company 14 in Gore, VA and 2009 graduate of James Wood High School.

Surviving are his parents: Donald A. “Duck” Whitacre, Jr. and step-mother: Donna of Gore, VA; his mother: Diane Anderson Holmes and step-father: James of Stephen City, VA; one sister: Cheyenne Holmes of Stephens City, VA; he was raised by his paternal grandparents: Donald A. Whitacre, Sr. and Sue H. Whitacre of Gore, VA; maternal grandparents: Norman and Pansy Anderson of Gore, VA; one step-brother: Justin Rudolph of Gore, VA and one step-sister: Victoria Rudolph.

A funeral service will be held at the Winchester Church of God in Winchester, VA on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 1:00 PM. Officiating will be Pastor Kent Woodward. Interment will be private in Ebenezer Cemetery near Gore, VA.

Family will receive friends at the Giffin Funeral Home in Capon Bridge, WV on Friday, February 17, 2012 from 12-3 and 6-9 PM. Friends may call on Saturday at the Winchester Church of God two hours prior to service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gore Vol. Fire & Rescue, PO Box 146, Gore, VA 22637.

UPDATE 12-6-2011: Visitation for Firefighter Joey King will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cunningham Parker Johnson Funeral Home in Charleston. The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the South Charleston Community Center.

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the Line of Duty Death of Firefighter Joey King of the Davis Creek (Kanawha County) Volunteer Fire Department.

61-year-old Joey King, a seven year veteran of the Davis Creek-Ruthdale Volunteer Fire Department, died after falling from the Steven Wayne Smith Memorial Bridge along Corridor G while searching for the source of a unseen fire.

More info: http://booneexaminer.com/deceased-davis-creek-firefighter-named-p2377-1.htm

Tentative schedule for the services of FF Joey King, Davis Creek VFD: Wednesday night, Dec 7 2011 Visitation with Funeral to be held on Dec. 8 2011. These dates are TENTATIVE only. No confirmation as of this date/time.

Please keep the family, friends and fellow firefighters of our fallen brother in your thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.

WV Fire Service LODD: It is with deep regret that we advise you that Roger Bell, Fire Chief of the Coal City (W. VA) VFD died in the Line of Duty on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Chief Bell collapsed at the fire station at around 2:45 p.m. of an apparent heart attack. Members attempted CPR and he was taken to Raleigh General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of our brother, Donald Adkins, 32, of the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department. Brother Adkins lost his life in the line of duty while performing a water rescue in Beaver Creek near the Glen Morgan bridge (Raleigh County, WV).

Allow us to express our sincere condolences to the family, friends and fire service brothers and sisters of Donald. You are gone, but not soon forgotten.

Services:

Visitation and Funeral to be held on Wednesday, March 24 2010 at 11am and 2pm at the Riverside High School.

David Hodges, Asst. Chief of the Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department is preparing a “Patch Drive” for Donald’s son Devin. Asst. Chief Hodges requests that all patches be sent in C/O:

David Hodges

Whitesville Volunteer Fire Dept

PO BX 145

Whitesville WV, 25209

The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department will be in need of firefighters to “man the station” through Monday, March 22nd 2010 and possibly Tuesday and/or Wednesday. For more information, contact someone at the Glasgow VFD, 304-595-4554.

The 2009 West Virginia Fallen Fire Fighter’s Memorial. Standing ever vigilant over the grounds of the State Capitol, the statue represents the honor by which we give to those that have fallen. On October 11th 2009, West Virginia honored those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to the service of the State of West Virginia. At 1pm on October 11th 2009, the Fallen Fire Fighter’s Memorial Service was conducted at the Memorial Site on the south walk-way of the West Virginia Cultural Center, Greenbrier Street, Capitol Grounds, Charleston West Virginia. Above, you will find a compilation of event pictures.

The bell rings for the last call of our fallen brothers. Let this be the final sounding of that bell. Let our brothers and sisters stay safe through their next call to duty. Let us never place another name on our memorials. Let us not report in full dress uniforms for that final good bye. On this day, let us remember the fallen brothers whose names have been placed on the memorial this year:

FF Charles E. Kessel, Maysville VFC
FF Robert L. McAtee, Huttonsville-Mill Creek VFD
Lt. Johnnie Hammons, Craigsville-Beaver-Cottle VFD
FF Timothy Nicholas, Craigsville-Beaver-Cottle VFD