By Helen Bebbington
Dayton Daily News
Copyright 2007 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.
SPRING VALLEY, Ohio — More than 50 years ago, Jim Stroup began volunteering with the Spring Valley Twp. Fire Department.
Stroup, then just 18 years old, probably didn’t walk in the door with half a century of service in mind.
He was also continuing what would become a family tradition of service.
Stroup’s father, Clarence, had been a volunteer for the Spring Valley department and later, Stroup’s son, Sam, and two daughters, Shery and Jeni, would also volunteer.
In recognition of his service, an open house is being held for Stroup from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the firehouse, 2547 U.S. 42 South, Spring Valley.
Stroup of Xenia Twp. began his training as a volunteer while in his early teens. He was a member of Spring Valley’s junior fire department, which trained young people interested in volunteering. From there, he stepped into volunteering as an adult.
The years of service have been rewarding for Stroup.
“You feel like you’re helping mankind out, and it’s a good feeling,” Stroup said.
Stroup said he views his role as one who lends a hand when people are facing sad, desperate situations.
“That’s basically what we’re trying to do, give a little comfort out there,” Stroup said. “You get something back from that.”
The role and focus of volunteer firefighters has changed since Stroup began. Mandates have increased, and so has the training.
“There is a lot of schooling that has to be accomplished,” Stroup said. “It’s very difficult for someone (who) has a family and makes a living.”
Stroup started as a firefighter, and then trained in later years to be an emergency medical technician.
An electrician throughout his life, Stroup, 69, retired from that occupation seven years ago. He only recently retired from his work as a volunteer. Stroup said he holds many memories of his years as a volunteer, doing mostly emergency medical runs. Fire runs were less frequent, he said.
“I think sometimes the bad outcome sticks out sometimes,” he said.
Stroup said it was frustrating over the years to leave home or work and rush out to a situation that didn’t meet the criteria of an emergency. Yet even during some of those, Stroup knew he was needed.
Stroup and other volunteers were once called to a home where a young mother was alone with her sick child.
“It was nothing real serious about (the child’s illness),” Stroup said.
Stroup said it was about 2 a.m., and he was wondering whether this run was worth it when he realized they were giving a frightened mother support at a time when she had no one else.
“You’re helping this young lady with her child,” he said.
Al Laming, 66, has known Stroup since they were young, and, like Stroup, he has volunteered for the Spring Valley Twp. Fire Department for decades. Laming, who was chief for 18 years at Spring Valley, said Stroup was dedicated to the department
“Jim was a great volunteer and a hard worker,” Laming said. “For some, the department becomes a big part of your life,” he said.
“It gets in your blood and it’s hard to get rid of,” he said.