Former Springfield Township Assistant Fire Chief, Ralph Edward Dye, 83, passed away on March 8, after a short stay in the hospital.
He was born on Ira Avenue in Akron, on November 23, 1925 and had lived in Sawyerwood since the early 1950’s. Although he held many jobs in his lifetime, from building rims to moving houses, he spent 33 years working as a fireman for Springfield Township starting in 1951 and becoming assistant fire chief in 1966 until his retirement in 1984.
“He loved fighting fires,” said his stepson, Richard Hickman. He stated that Dye would talk about the days when the fire station was across the street from where it is currently. They had one truck that carried 250 gallons of water. “He said if you could not put the fire out with the 250 gallons you lost the building,” said Hickman.
Dye married Agnes Hickman and they enjoyed life together, she passed away in 1989. Hickman told the story that the couple was leaving on vacation and Dye got a call that a house across the street from him was on fire. The car was packed and they were ready to go. Agnes said to him that he would do anything to get out of going on vacation. He walked across the street, took a lawn chair and through it through the window, ran a boost line when the firefighters arrived he handed them the line, walked across the street got in the car and went on vacation.
Hickman said that firefighters told him that they knew Ralph would never take them anywhere they could not get out of. He was always the furthest one in to the scene and they would follow until he would say it was time to get out.
One Lakemore firefighter reminisced with Hickman as he told him the story of a fire he had responded to. He and another person were crawling under the smoke in a building looking for the flames when they saw a red glow in the distance. The glow got closer and closer until they realized it was Ralph’s cigarette glowing. He walked past them and said,
“You need to go another 30 feet to the fire.”
Dye served in the Marine Corps during World War II and earned the rank of Corporal while in the Pacific. He was a member of the Mogadore VFW and the Army/Navy Club of Lakemore. His favorite book was “Flags of Our Fathers” .He said it told it like it was during the war.
“He was very active in the Boy Scouts. As a young man he reached the life rank and always talked about how he was one of a few scouts chosen by one of the rubber companies to be sent to Camp Manatoc and how wonderful it was. “He really enjoyed it,” Hickman stated. He was also very proud to see his grandson, Tommy Hickman become an Eagle Scout.
At Doc Samples funeral Dye saw a picture of the old fire station and the fireman in front of it. He stated he was the last one left and remembered all of their names and told stories of those days.
In retirement he loved to sit on the deck outside, play cards, read and visit with friends.
“He enjoyed life and will be deeply missed. He was a very kind, generous person,” said Hickman.
Springfield Township, Ohio —
