This past weekend, Retired Captain Peter “Pete” Price passed away. Pete was a Captain for the Roanoke Fire Department and served for 35 years. Just days before Pete passed away he attended a Retirees Breakfast hosted by the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1132. At the breakfast he gave an impromptu interview telling some stories about back in the day. Unfortunately, we lost him only days later. Pete loved getting together with all of the other retired members to reminisce about “Back in the Day” and was usually found in the middle of a group telling stories while others listened.
Pete’s obituary is posted below with the arrangements.
Read about the retirees breakfast here with images and videos.
Read about Pete Price on RoanokeFire.com.
Watch the video interview below.
Peter L. Price
Peter L. Price, 85, of Stewartsville, passed away suddenly on Saturday morning, May 16, 2009. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and retired as a Captain from the Roanoke City Fire Department with 35 years service. He was a long-time active member of Belmont Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife were married 61 years ago. He was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Bettie Price; one sister, Estelle; two brothers, John and Clay; and a son, Kenneth. Surviving are his wife, Bea Pasley Price; his children, David (Carol) of Conyers, Ga., Charles (Susan) of Greenville, N.C.; one daughter, LouAnn (David) Swisher of Martinsville, Va.; three grandchildren, Beth (Steve) Carter of Covington, Ga., Greg (Veronica) Price of Winterville, N.C. and Landon Price of Nags Head, N.C.; one great-grandson, Kyle Carter of Covington, Ga.; and dearest friends, Jimmy and Gloria Jennings of Roanoke and Fred and Jean Swisher of Vinton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Belmont Presbyterian Church with Pastor Emily Hoyer officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Burial Park. Visitation will be held at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel on Monday May 18, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Flowers will be appreciated or donations may be made in his name to Belmont Presbyterian Church, 1005 Ninth Street, SE, Roanoke, Va., 24013 or to the National D-Day Memorial, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, Va., 24523. Arrangements by Oakey’s Vinton Chapel.
I’m always willing to hear the war stories from our forefathers!!I hope I can live to tell it!!!
I am Captain Pete Price’s daughter and I just want to say THANK YOU to each & EVERY ONE of you from the bottom of my heart for your many acts of kindness shown to our family during Pete’s passing. I’ve always heard that firefighters are a close and loyal group, but that has never been so evident as seeing so many of you come to the funeral home visitation for Daddy, to his home to comfort our family, and to his funeral service. We were especially touched and comforted by your solemn display of respect during the funeral procession, as firefighters stood by their fire trucks and saluted as the procession passed each major intersection on the way to the cemetery. The deep respect and camaraderie exhibited by each of you, even the young firemen/women not old enough to have ever worked with my Dad, is just amazing.
I thank you too for the video of my Dad at the Union breakfast just before his death. It is such a sweet tribute for you to take the time and interest to record the stories of an old, retired fireman “warrior,” and we will forever treasure this last recording of my Dad.
Again, THANK YOU ALL for your wonderful acts of compassion for a fellow-firefighter and his family.
Sincerely,
LouAnn (Price) Swisher
(swishhoos@yahoo.com)
& the entire Price family