QUILCENE — About 200 people came out Saturday afternoon to show their appreciation for the late Bob Wilson, who they said improved the community with his dedication and caring.
Those who attended the rededication of the Quilcene Fire Hall, now named for the former fire chief, mourned him in April 2009, when he died at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer.
More than 1,000 people attended Wilson’s memorial service then.
Saturday’s event was to celebrate what the chief who had led fire districts in both Quilcene and Discovery Bay-Gardiner had accomplished in life.
Wouldn’t want the fuss
“If Bob was here, he would be happy for the honor but wouldn’t want all the fuss,” Quilcene Fire Commissioner David Ward said at the ceremony at the fire hall at 70 Herbert St., Quilcene.
“He then would start scanning the crowd to find new recruits for the volunteer fire department.”
Born in San Bernardino, Calif., Wilson began his tenure with Quilcene Fire District 2 in 1985 as a volunteer. In 1992, he was appointed part-time chief.
In 1999, the Quilcene fire district commissioners made Wilson the district’s first full-time chief — a position he held for 19 years.
Fire District 2 in Quilcene was an all-volunteer organization until 1999.
Wilson was credited with building up the fire department by recruiting and training local young people as volunteers, who then served for years.
He also encouraged local youths to explore firefighting as a career.
Bob Wilson Fire Station 21
Saturday’s dedication was for a plaque on a rock outside the fire station, a sign on the wall and, most dramatically, large lettering reading “Bob Wilson Fire Station 21” above the garage bays.
His widow, Veda Wilson, attended the service with her three children — sons, Joseph and Jake, and daughter, Dana — and Wilson’s mother, Wilma Tate Wilson.
Veda Wilson recalled her husband’s early successes as a volunteer firefighter, such as being named firefighter of the year.
She felt some competition with his career.
“Bob had found a new love, and I wondered, ‘What about me?'” she said.
“I had to explain to Bob where he lived, and it wasn’t at the fire hall.”
She delivered her remarks in an upbeat way until the end, when her voice cracked.
“Our family really does love you all,” she said,
Deputy Chief Mo Moser said he did not have a speech prepared until 3 a.m. Saturday.
‘Bob told me what to say’
“Bob told me what to say today,” Moser said.
“The words that come out of my mouth now are not mine but come from Bob.
“He said: ‘It’s all done after today. I am honored about what you are saying today, but it is time for us to all move on and build the fire department, be true to our goals and get behind the new chief.'”
Since Wilson’s death, the Quilcene Fire Department has weathered two commissioner resignations and several charges of impropriety directed at the commissioners.
Differences were set aside Saturday.
Chief Bob Low, who took the job in February, did not speak at the service. He spent much of the time encouraging people to “eat more cake.”
Former fire commissioner Julie McLanahan, who resigned earlier this year for health reasons, watched the service from the side of the hall while on a gurney.
“He was the most wonderful man,” she said.
“Every day there would be ‘Bob time’ where we would talk about everything, what everyone was doing in town — but mostly we would talk about how great we both were,” she said.
Chief Wilson also contributed to the formation of JeffCom, the 9-1-1 dispatch center for Jefferson County fire districts, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Townsend Police Department.
He was honored in October at the state Capitol in Olympia during the 24th Annual Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service.
Wilson was credited with several improvements in the Quilcene fire district, including wearing a uniform while on the job.
Moser wouldn’t go along with this, refusing to suit up.
He did so for the first time at Wilson’s funeral.
Saturday was the third time he put on the uniform, and each occasion has been in Wilson’s honor.
“I don’t want to wear it out,” he said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
