Trending Topics

Pa. FF dies after driving in fire parade

Richard A. Fry, 77, was found in his vehicle June 24 after participating in the Mt. Pleasant Firemen’s Parade, said Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell

206729816_2998858197057503_3964315303227835438_n.jpeg

Richard A. Fry, 77, was found in his vehicle June 24 after participating in the Mt. Pleasant Firemen’s Parade, said Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell. Fry had driven the Greensburg fire chief’s vehicle during the parade, Bell said.

Photo/Greensburg Hose Company Number 7

Joe Napsha
Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags at all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds in Westmoreland County to fly at half-staff in honor of a longtime Greensburg firefighter who died over the weekend.

Richard A. Fry, 77, was found in his vehicle June 24 after participating in the Mt. Pleasant Firemen’s Parade, said Greensburg fire Chief Tom Bell. Fry had driven the Greensburg fire chief’s vehicle during the parade, Bell said.

“This was a guy who just kept on going. He was very active,” having responded to three fire calls on Thursday, Bell said.

He was a member for 49 years at Greensburg Hose Company No. 7, which he joined in December 1972. He had served as its president, and, at the time of his death, served as vice president, house committee and was on the board of control.

Fry also was a member of several state and Westmoreland County firefighter’s associations, including the Westmoreland County Fire Chiefs Association.

Fry, who grew up in Latrobe, was a former member of the Latrobe Fire Department the St. Vincent Volunteer Fire Department.

He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 33, Greensburg, where he was a past commander, past senior vice commander and past all state commander. He also served on the VFW honor guard.

Greensburg Fire Department will conduct a service at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home Inc., 516 Stanton St., Southwest Greensburg. The fire department will have a procession with firetrucks past Hose Company No. 7 on East Pittsburgh Street for the funeral Wednesday morning, Bell said.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Mt. Pleasant Road, Hempfield. Interment will be in Greensburg Catholic Cemetery.

Wolf’s order stipulates that state flags will remain lowered in the county until Fry’s funeral.

___

(c)2021 Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)