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Ronald Lee Billick

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Birth	:	22 Nov 1936 Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	3 Oct 2003 Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate	:	47.5694008, -122.6860962
Description	:	The Sun Link newspaper in Bremerton, Washington; October 12, 2003 MEMORIAL Fire bell rings one last time for Ron Billick A ceremony at Crosby Chapel honors the longtime Central Kitsap volunteer firefighter. A firehouse bell clanged 15 times, echoing out a last call for Ron Billick. Heavy and resonant, the rings filled the Crosby Chapel on Saturday during a ceremony for the retired Central Kitsap volunteer firefighter, who died Oct. 3 at age 66 of a heart attack. Neighbors, former shipyard co-workers and firefighters filled every pew in the small town's church to remember Billick. He and his wife Marjorie created small fire stations along the Hood... Read More	The Sun Link newspaper in Bremerton, Washington; October 12, 2003 MEMORIAL Fire bell rings one last time for Ron Billick A ceremony at Crosby Chapel honors the longtime Central Kitsap volunteer firefighter. A firehouse bell clanged 15 times, echoing out a last call for Ron Billick. Heavy and resonant, the rings filled the Crosby Chapel on Saturday during a ceremony for the retired Central Kitsap volunteer firefighter, who died Oct. 3 at age 66 of a heart attack. Neighbors, former shipyard co-workers and firefighters filled every pew in the small town's church to remember Billick. He and his wife Marjorie created small fire stations along the Hood Canal and influenced many other firefighters, including their son, Randy, one of the most senior officers in Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue. Ron's father-in-law, Ed Mastick, created several on South Kitsap's first aid station. Randy, was one of the first three paid firefighters in Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue and is the department's fire prevention chief. Britini Hintz, one of 10 grandchildren, is studying fire fighting at Olympic College and hopes to be the fourth generation of her family to serve in a Kitsap fire department. "I know when I'm fighting fires, I'll think of him every time," she sai When he retired as a volunteer in 1996, Ron Billick was the battalion chief for the Seabeck-Hintzville-Lake Tahuya area. "I think it was because he knew everyone and was friends with everyone" that he was such an active volunteer, said Kevin Staub, a former volunteer at the Hintzville station. The Hintzville station was the last of three fire stations the Billicks created. It sits in their front yard, on land they donated. The first station they started was in Holly, south of Seabeck. In the mid-60s, a family friend died because paramedics could not get to the area fast enough, Randy Billick said. At the time the only stations in the area were in Seabeck and Silverdale. Neighbors promised county commissioners that a station, if supplied with a truck, would be staffed. The county gave the department a small pick-up truck and portable tank, Holly's first engine. The Billicks and other families created a one-bay station at the Holly Community Club to hold it. In the first years of the stations, Marjorie would run the phone tree while Ron and neighbors went on emergency calls. Randy Billick remembers these calls -- before Central Command used pagers and radios -- were his first initiation into the fire fighting. As their parents would jump on the truck, they made the calls to rouse the other volunteers. When he and his brother, Marty, turned 16, they joined the squad. By that time, Marjorie had become a firefighter and paramedic, responding to daytime emergencies while Ron worked in the shipyard. "Dad would be the officer, Mom always drove and we road tailboard," she said. On scene of the thousands of calls they answered together, Marjorie would start the pumps and Marty and Randy would go in with hoses. Ron, as the officer, would survey the scene, give directions and comfort the families. Although their sister Janna was never a volunteer firefighter, she later married one, Gary Hintz. A few years after the Holly station was built, county commissioners tapped the Billicks to start a station at Lake Tahuyeh. Several years later, when Hintzville needed a station, the Billicks donated the land. The building would be completed in 1978. Ron considered the station his garage, said Marjorie, but the engine was hers. Even in retirement the Billicks could be called in on serious fires, so long as they weren't vacationing with grand kids or friends, their neighbors said. In a fire district manned entirely by volunteers, everyone dropped what they were doing and ran to the scene. In the summertime, they would end their time on the Bach, putting gear on over bathing suits and trading flip-flops for boots. Staub remembered one Halloween when Ron -- known in the neighborhood for his inventive and elaborate costumes -- had to pull the heavy firefighters' coat on over his scarecrow costume. Friends who gathered for Ron's memorial service yesterday remembered his involvement in the community, games of cards at the Seabeck cafe or fishing trips. Ron loved fishing and practical jokes, they said. After his first two boats got crushed in storms at the Seabeck Marina, he bought a boat from a friend and built a pilot house. The portholes were unique -- made from toilet seats. Last week, a second alarm went out for more assistance on a house fire early in the morning. Randy Billick headed to the scene where a family lost a brand new house. "I had to go out and help someone," he said. "I knew it was what my dad would want me to do."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Ronald Lee Billick's memorial?
Ronald Lee Billick's memorial is located at: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA.
When did Ronald Lee Billick death?
Ronald Lee Billick death on 3 Oct 2003 in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Ronald Lee Billick's memorial?
Latitude: 47.5694008
Longitude: -122.6860962

Family Members:

Parent

Martin George Grover

(1909 - 1999)

Evelyn Mae Brandes Grover

(1918 - 1997)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Forest Lawn Cemetery
Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5694008, -122.6860962

2. Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park
Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5724983, -122.6881027

3. Phinney Bay Indian Cemetery
Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5819970, -122.6680240

4. Ivy Green Cemetery
Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5736008, -122.6461029

5. Saint Pauls Episcopal Church Memorial Gardens
Bremerton, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5859300, -122.6283100

6. Sunset Lane Memorial Park
Port Orchard, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5368996, -122.6278000

7. Tracyton Cemetery
Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6185989, -122.6611023

8. Knights of Pythias Cemetery
Port Orchard, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5349998, -122.6280975

9. Sidney Cemetery
Port Orchard, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5204600, -122.6445600

10. Washington Veterans Home Cemetery
Retsil, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5402600, -122.6115400

11. Saint Antony of Egypt Episcopal Church Garden
Silverdale, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6557750, -122.7075170

12. Brownsville Cemetery
Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6451683, -122.6119995

13. Bethel Cemetery
Bethel, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.4853200, -122.6333530

14. Silverdale Pioneer Cemetery
Silverdale, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6643333, -122.7154999

15. Colby Cemetery
Colby, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.5337700, -122.5517380

16. Island Center Cemetery
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6457000, -122.5647600

17. Hillcrest Cemetery
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6131570, -122.5332960

18. Island Lake Cemetery
Poulsbo, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6801580, -122.6392060

19. Port Blakely Cemetery
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6011140, -122.5199390

20. Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church Cemetery
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6278800, -122.5351500

21. Seabeck Cemetery
Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6340700, -122.8321590

22. Doyle Cemetery
Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.4506700, -122.6739190

23. Bethany Lutheran Church Columbarium
Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6355330, -122.5361840

24. Mountain View Cemetery
Silverdale, Kitsap County, USA
Coordinate: 47.6938500, -122.6748300