Roanoke City Battalion Chief Bobbie Slayton was laid to rest yesterday. Bobbie passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2011 after suffering a stroke on December 26, 2010. Chief Slayton served the Department from December 6, 1965 until July 1, 2010 (more than 44 years). More on Chief Slayton can be seen HERE HERE and HERE
His viewing and funeral service was attended by many despite windy conditions and single digit temperatures. IAFF Local 1132 and the Roanoke Fire / EMS Department carried the Chief to his final resting place with Fire Department Honors.
City Stations were staffed with off duty members along with members from surrounding Departments… Salem Fire / EMS Department and Roanoke County Fire / Rescue. I’m waiting on the completed roster of the Brothers and Sisters working that detail and will have it posted here as soon as it becomes available. I personally want to express my THANKS and APPRECIATION to those members for their professionalism, the brotherhood, honor and respect shown for our fallen.
Several comments were made as to how “impressive” the funeral seemed to those not familiar with Fire Department funerals. Bobbie’s “send off” seemed only fitting for the type of man and Chief he was. Here is the local news coverage…
Mike Overacker (Retired) also has some great photos over on his site Roanokefirefighters.com See those pics HERE. (some pics in this post are also courtesy of Mike..other by Drew Able Station #3-A)
It was also fitting that the bell we use to signal a fallen’s “final Alarm” was a project of Chief Slayton. Bobbie played a huge roll in having the bell removed from the tower of Historic #1 as well as its refurbishment. The bell was then mounted on a trailer and has been used for member funerals since. Here is a photo of the Chief and his B-shift crew of Ladder #1 with the finished product.
L-R Bobbie Slayton, Riley Peters, Jimmy Jennings, Doug Rorer, Willie Wines Sr. and Brent Berry
Here is the bell and Honor Guard at Chief Slayton’s funeral
Thanks also to all the uniformed personnel in attendance. As I mentioned, the weather conditions were near unbearable. Members lining the cemetery entrance were standing unshielded in the elements for almost 45 minutes. Another tribute to the life and memory of Chief Slayton.
Below is the list of Roanoke County and Salem members who filled our stations..
Roanoke County Fire / Rescue..
Captain Brian Witt, FF/ Medic John Ferron, FF/EMT Barry Brown, Captain Troy Grey, FF/Medic Brandon Carroll, FF/EMT John Gillespie, Battalion Chief Bill Duff, FF/EMT John Morton, FF/EMT Adam Amburgey, Captain Barry Hurley, FF/EMT Scott Morgan, FF/EMT Tim Webster.
Captain E. Hite, EMS Supervisor Lt. J. Poindexter, FF/Medic T. Rickman, FF/EMT L. Keffer, FF/EMT J. McAlexander, FF/EMT B. Haynes, FF/EMT J. Meredith, FF/EMT A. Lester, FF/EMT M. Cogen, FF/EMT S. Albert.
There were also several City Members who came in (uncompensated) and manned a rig / station so that B-shift members could attend the services. I do not have the complete list yet but will add their names as soon as it becomes available.
The Honor Gaurd …. WOW! Another outstanding job by every member on the team. At the viewing, several retirees commented on how they thought the members posted by the casket were statues. At the funeral, Lt. Robet “Bugg” Reid and Lt. Darrel Songer once again had the task and honor of posting by the casket during the ceremony. That was a little over 1 hour at “Ceremonal Parade Rest” …. unbelievable job!
Well done folks. The members serving as Honor Guard were as follows….
Roanoke City
Battalion Chief Roger Manual, Lt. Dan Goodwin, FF/MEdic Richard Lipes, Captain Chris Trussler, 1st Lt. D. Songer, Lt. Robert Reid, Lt. T. Gherman, Travis Meador, Jeff East, J.D. Reynolds, Todd Riley, Josh Hull, Carlie Walshe, J. Anuszkiewicz, Rachel Winters, M. Jenkins and Jacob Palmer.
Lt. Mike Elston, FF/Medic Chris Smith and FF/EMT D. Parr
Toby Martin, Captain Jeff Lawson and Dean Perulous
Please forgive and let me know if I have left anyone out. AGAIN, thanks to everyone involved for a job WELL DONE!
REST IN PIECE CHIEF
Captain Wines
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I’m VERY VERY impressed with how the Honor Guard has improved in the last few years. Sadly they have been getting a lot of practice. I’m so proud to see that so many of our members are involved with it too…. from a Batt Chief to a six month FF. Great job Carly and good for you for showing such an interest in the Department so early into your career. Bugg and Songer…wow! thats disipline and dedication right there. Still and rock solid for an hour!
What does sicken me to no end though is the complete lack of respect for the uniform, the department, and the Chief, some (very few) members showed by coming to the service, in UNIFORM, with a beard, and wearing a stocking cap under the Class A hat. That man should have his ass eaten by his Capt, and I have a feeling he will. I saw members missing hat badges, collar insignia, name tags ect. Its is YOUR uniform and YOU have a responsibility to maintain it and make sure it fits, that its complete, and that its clean and ready to go at all times. Have some pride in the way you look! Again, GREAT job Honor Guard!
I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who answered the call for staffing our apparatus so that the on duty personell could attend Chief Slaytons funeral. Those of us who were able to attend the funeral because of the generosity of the brothers and sisters of our neighboring departments must remember to return the favor when the time comes. The Honor Guard did an OUTSTANDING job during the visitation, at the church with Daryl Songer and Insect Reid pulling the “ironman” duty, and at the graveside service. Very impressive.
The brotherhood that has been exhibited throughout this whole ordeal has been tremondous. From the non stop flow of visitors when the Chief was still in the regular hospital room. To the fellow retirees who sat with him through the nightime hours so that the family could go home and get some well deserved rest. To the overwhelming response to request for the posting of a firefighter at the door of the Chiefs hospital room, it didn’t matter if it was 2:00 in the afternoon or 2:00 in the morning, the need was met. By pure happenstance, I had the distinct priveledge and honor to be with the Chief when he passed. After we exited the room so the family could have their private time with him, as I made my way to the hallway where I was having an emotional moment, I was met by the crew from Station 8. I was the recipient 5 heartfelt hugs and words of comfort.Thanks guys. In less than 15 minutes after the Chiefs passing, my phone is ringing with the word of his passing. Craig Sellers