GREGG COUNTY, Texas — An East Texas fire chief who was the cornerstone of his department for almost half a century passed away this week.
Elderville-Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Pat Owens passed away Wednesday. He was 73, the fire department said on Facebook.
He served at Elderville-Lakeport Volunteer Fire for the past 48 years.
"He has been instrumental in shaping the department into what it has become today, as well as shaping hundreds of firefighters who will continue to serve their communities, thanks to his guidance and mentorship . He will be greatly missed," the ELVFD said in a Facebook post.
Several agencies have shared on social media that Owens will be greatly missed.
"Pat was the true definition of a public servant. Please pray for Chief Owens’ family and the men and women of the Elderville-Lakeport VFD," the Gregg County Sheriff's Office said in part on Facebook.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Mobberly Baptist Church-The Crossing, located at 625 E. Loop 281 in Longview, and a visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m., according to his obituary.
He joined the Elderville-Lakeport Volunteer Fire Department in 1975. He loved the firefighting field so much that he was hired at the Longview Fire Department in 1977. He worked at several Longview fire stations, but he spent most of his 29 years at station 3, where he retired as a captain in December 2006, his obituary states.
Owens had his instructor's certificate and lectured at many conferences throughout Texas. He trained several firefighters, including some in Canada. He worked seasonally with the Texas Forest Service and during the 2003 recovery of the Space Shuttle Columbia, the memorial read.
"He enjoyed flying single engine planes, gardening, and riding motorcycles in addition to firefighting," the obituary said.