QUILCENE — The late Fire Chief Bob Wilson, who died in April after a battle with cancer, will be honored at the state Capitol in Olympia, where Gov. Chris Gregoire will address the 24th Annual Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service.
Chief Wilson, who died at 58 after leading fire districts in both Quilcene, No. 2, and Discovery Bay-Gardiner No. 5, will be memorialized Sunday morning along with three other fallen firefighters during the memorial service under the Capitol Rotunda.
The governor will be the keynote speaker for the service, which will feature music and traditional fire service observance with bagpipes and an honor guard.
Chief Wilson, known as a humble man, would be surprised by the honor, his widow, Veda Wilson, said Tuesday in Quilcene.
“He gave his all. He gave 100 percent back to the community,” she said, adding that the chief would be “just in shock” by such recognition.
State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick said Chief Wilson will be remembered for his service, along with Assistant Chief William Dean McLean of Douglas County Fire District No. 5, Lt. Terry Bowen of Skagit County Fire District No. 11 and Firefighter Roger Duke of the Vancouver Fire Department.
The Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Service is a joint effort by the state Fire Protection Policy Board, the state Fire Fighters’ Association, Board of Volunteer Fire Fighters, Washington Fire Chiefs, Washington Fire Commissioners Association, Washington Council of Fire Fighters, Thurston County Fire Chiefs Association, the cities of Olympia and Tumwater fire departments, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to recognize firefighters who lost their lives while serving their communities.
Family to attend
Wilson’s widow said that their sons, Joseph and Jake, and daughter, Dana, will join her at the ceremony along with church friends and other family members, including Chief Wilson’s mother, Wilma Tate Wilson.
“We all miss him,” she said.
Veda Wilson, who has never visited the state capital, said the family will meet with the governor before the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
Quilcene Fired District Commissioner David Ward is expected to represent the fire district at the ceremony and Veda Wilson expected other firefighters from Quilcene and Discovery Bay to attend.
More than 1,000 attended Chief Wilson’s memorial service in April, many delivering heartfelt and sometimes tearful recollections of the man who served the community, often acting in the roles of teacher, confidante and friend.
Born in San Bernardino, Calif., Chief Wilson began his tenure with Quilcene Fire District 2 in 1985 as a volunteer. In 1992, he was appointed chief in a part-time capacity.
He also worked as a heavy equipment operator to augment his part-time position as fire 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.
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.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.