First responders pay their respects to late fire chief Lenz
T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK FORMER OR&W Fire Chief David Lenz’s funeral procession passes beneath an arch formed by ladder trucks. One of the trucks is from the Cumberland Trail Fire District, since Lenz’s son, Michael, is a firefighter for both districts.
T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK FORMER OR&W Fire Chief David Lenz’s funeral procession passes beneath an arch formed by ladder trucks. One of the trucks is from the Cumberland Trail Fire District, since Lenz’s son, Michael, is a firefighter for both districts.
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SHADYSIDE -- Bitter cold and whipping wind Wednesday did not deter local firefighters from hosting a special ceremony at the fire station where David Lenz, retired chief of OR&W Fire District, dedicated himself to a career that lasted more than 40 years.
First responders from across the area paid their respects to Lenz, who died Saturday at age 71. He served as fire chief for the former Shadyside Volunteer Fire Department and then the district from 2003 until his retirement in August.
Ladder trucks formed an arch over Central Avenue, draping an American flag high above. A procession from the funeral at Bauknecht-Altmeyer Funeral Home and Crematory passed through the crossed ladders and stopped at the fire station for a brief service.
Gregg Warren, a longtime member of the fire board and its chairman, participated in setting up the crossed ladders. He pointed out that a Cumberland Trail Fire District ladder truck participated in forming the arch, since Lenz's son, Michael, is a full-time firefighter with Cumberland Trail as well as a captain and part-time firefighter at OR&W.
Warren said Lenz made a lasting mark on many local residents.
"The community's sad. Dave's a good guy. Not only was he a dedicated fire and emergency personnel individual, he cared a lot about his community. He's just part of the community and he'll be missed. He did a good job for this community," Warren said.
Friends, family and fellow first responders attended the service, which featured a bell symbolizing the alarm bells that often call firefighters to action. The bell was rung and first responders saluted. The Belmont County Central Dispatch Center also announced a last call for Lenz.
Chief R.C. Fellows presented Lenz's helmet to his wife, Kim, and family. Bagpipes played songs including "Amazing Grace." Several people brushed away tears.
Afterward, firefighter/EMT Tim Wiles spoke about his time working with Lenz. He recalled that they were both longtime first responders. Lenz joined the then-Shadyside Volunteer Fire Department in 1975.
"We took our basic EMT together," Wiles said. "He's been here at least two years longer than I have."
Wiles said Lenz helmed the department during its transition from the Shadyside Volunteer Fire Department to become the OR&W Fire District in 2012.
"He was a good guy. We worked together. Any calls he asked for something to be done, we did it," Wiles said. "We've done a lot of training and everything. We still do. ... He was a great guy to work with."
Lenz was a Bellaire native and a 1970 graduate of Shadyside High School. In addition to his wife and son,, he is survived by his daughter, Amanda Lenz, and his granddaughter, Lorileigh Lenz.
According to Lenz's obituary, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to OR&W Fire District or to the Lincoln Avenue United Methodist Church School Lunch program by going to TMCFunding.com.