Tyrone Neptune Fire Chief Ray E. Stringer II received hero’s honors as he was laid to rest yesterday.
More than 300 people attended services for Stringer at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Tyrone. The congregation joined in singing “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.”
Eulogies for the fallen chief were given during the 11 a.m. service. The Rev. C. Tim Miller, Pastor of the Tyrone Alliance Church, offered a remembrance.
A program honoring Stringer was distributed to church attendees. The program contained lyrics to the hymns that were used during the service. It also contained three verses from the bible.
Perhaps, for one who so many said had given so much to the community, none was more appropriate than Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Following the service at the church, Stringer received fireman’s procession honors. Dozens of fire companies from at least four counties participated in the procession from the church to Logan Avenue and Tenth Street under two ladder trucks, stationed near the VFW, forming traditional arches for the fallen firefighter. The ladder trucks were from Tyrone’s Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Company and the Phoenixville Fire Department of Hollidaysburg. The procession continued onto Franklinville Cemetery where Stringer was taken to his final resting place.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of downtown Tyrone yesterday to watch the funeral procession. The 43-year-old Stringer graduated in 1980 from Tyrone Area High School. One of those who watched the procession was a former teacher of Stringer’s. She said, “It’s unbelievably sad. He was a good kid. He did so much good.”
Stringer lived on Adams Avenue and had two children, Ben and Heather Marie. He was formerly married to Windy Malmstrom.
According to his obituary, he was Chief of the Neptune Fire Company since 1990 and was a member of the Hookies Fire Company and the Central District Volunteer Fireman’s Assn. along with several other volunteer fire organizations. He was employed at P.P.G. Industries in Tipton for the past three years and previously at Westvaco Corp. and the New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested contributions in his honor be made to the Neptune Fire Co., 1701 Lincoln Ave., Tyrone.
Mr. Stringer lost his life last week after attending activities as a delegate at an annual firefighters convention. He had gone to the VFW in Nanty Glo and died as a result of an altercation early Friday morning. A Cambria County man, 29-year-old George Lightcap, was arrested on homicide and aggravated assault charges. A preliminary hearing for Lightcap was continued on Monday. He is being held in Cambria County Prison. No new court date has been announced.
Also on Monday, The Mayor of Nanty Glo released a statement about the 113th Central District Fire Fighter’s Convention and the death of Mr. Stringer.
Mayor Thomas D. Cunningham said of Stringer’s passing, “This event extremely saddened our quiet town. The incident is currently under investigation and cannot be commented on further, but I do wish to send my sincere condolences to the family members of Ray Stringer.”
The release noted the firefighters deeply mourned the loss of one of their own. Chief Stringer was honored in Nanty Glo when firefighters operated their vehicles in a parade on Saturday minus lights.
In addition to the firefighters’ procession yesterday, both of Tyrone’s fire departments and the companies’ vehicles were draped in black during the last several days to honor Stringer.
