| A former Roane County man and well-known Wood County fireman and paramedic was laid to rest this week. Garland R. Wilson Jr., 48, of Parkersburg, died Friday at his residence after battling with cancer.
Wilson, a former paramedic, was a member of the Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years and was employed by Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital as a training coordinator.
Lubeck Fire Chief Mark Stewart said the Spencer native was serious about what he did. "He didn't do anything halfway. When he did it, it was top-notch," he said.
Roane County residents would say "He was from the Granville Lance school of doing." The late Spencer dentist and fireman was likely the hardest working volunteer in that county's 20th century history.
Hundreds of his comrades appeared to extend their sympathy to his family and honor his service to the community.
Representatives from area volunteer fire departments, emergency squads, and ambulance services and fire departments joined the long procession of fire trucks, ambulances and police cruisers to Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
A Health Net helicopter from Charleston conducted a flyover during the service and stopped to hover over the site. A bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace" walked slowing from the grave site, the sound fading into the distance and the "Last Call" was given on the region's 911 radio frequencies.
In honor of Wilson, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 12110, Charleston, WV 25302.
A FIREMAN'S LIFE - Remembering The Servant Granville H. Lance (3/20/2002)
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