SPENCERVILLE, Ohio (WLIO) - Former longtime fire chief of the Spencerville Invincible Fire Company, Paul Lee, passed away early Tuesday morning.
A procession was held by the Spencerville Fire Department and Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home to honorably bring Lee back home from Columbus. On October 3rd, Lee was hit by a vehicle and spent the last two-and-a-half weeks being treated at the OSU Wexner Medical Center.
Lee is remembered as a lifelong hero to both Spencerville and his country. Before his time at the fire department, Lee served in the United States Army. Following his service to our country, lee served over 50 years to the Spencerville Invincible Fire Company while leading the department as fire chief for 35 years.
When speaking to fire officials on Tuesday, they said they will remember Lee for his dedication to Spencerville and the impact he made on the lives of many.
"Paul served the Spencerville community, and more ways than just [as fire chief] - he was Santa's helper, he made a career here in Spencerville, and there's definitely a void in all of our hearts," said Cory Counts, president of the Spencerville Invincible Fire Company. "The community support has been definitely overwhelming for us, and for Paul's family as well."
"When I started on the department 25 years ago, he was my chief then, and just learned a lot from him over the years," said Doug Lowry, chief of the Spencerville Invincible Fire Company. "I've been chief for three years now, and there's a lot of lot of information that was is going to be missed out of him."
Chief Lowry, Counts, and all of the Spencerville Fire Department invite the community for a memorial half chicken dinner in honor of Paul Lee. The dinner will take place on Tuesday, November 11th from 4 until 7 PM at 204 South Canal Street in Spencerville.
Dinners will be $15 each and it will be drive-thru only.
