Calvin Brothers, long serving firefighter, 4-H volunteer and Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County, has died at age 79
Kevin Dayhoff,
Monday, January 2, 2012
Updated: 3:25 p.m. Firefighters and friends from across Carroll County gathered
at the Haight Funeral Home in Sykesville on Jan. 1 to celebrate the life of...
Firefighters from all across Carroll County gathered at the Haight Funeral Home in Sykesville on Sunday to celebrate the life of Calvin Warren Brothers, 79, of Finksburg, who died Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
The service was conducted by the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association Chaplain, Deacon Charles Barnhart, of whom many emergency services personnel turn to in times of trouble or grief in Carroll County.
Barnhart began the service by saying, “My friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness our faith as we celebrate the life of Calvin Brothers. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.”
Brothers wore many different hats in the greater Carroll County community and many folks knew him well by his steadfast community leadership in the many responsibilities he took upon himself. The one common thread is that he did everything well and no matter how difficult the task, he was always a good friend to everyone.
He was born February 2, 1932 in Finksburg, and was the son of the late Ernest Claude and Amelia I. Ward Brothers. He was the husband of the late Carol Ann Baumes Brothers, who died in 2010.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Korea. He was a member of the Westminster VFW, Westminster Moose, and the Westminster American Legion.
He worked for many years for Luther L. Brothers Builders and later as the Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County.
Others knew him well as a volunteer with Carroll County 4H and FFA programs where he once served as the Chair of the Board for the Carroll County 4H and FFA Fair.
Folks gathered Sunday evening to celebrate Brothers’ service to our community as a volunteer firefighter. In May 1964, after several devastating fires in the Gamber area of Carroll County, the Gamber and Community Fire Company was organized. According to an old newspaper article, “Two months after the company established itself, Calvin Brothers joined up. His uncle, a member, recruited him. ‘Between 1965 and 1975, this was a very small company,’ he said. ‘It didn't seem like we were going to go too far.’”
But through the hard work of Brothers and countless other community leaders, the upstart fire company has gone far over the years.
“By 1965, the company purchased land and a building at the intersection of Md. 32 and Md. 91, and ordered the first piece of fire equipment…”
Here, Barnhart picked-up the story of Brothers’ work for our community at his memorial service. Brothers “gave his volunteer spirit for 46 years.” He was the company president for a total of eleven-years in five different decades.
Over the years, in addition to serving as a delegate to the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and member of numerous committees, he also served as Gamber fire chief, first vice-president for four years, second vice-president for three years, and a member of the board of directors for an additional four years.
He also served as president of the county firefighters’ association from 1992-1993 and was elected to the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame in 1990.
Barnhart spoke for many when he said, “There is so much to share about Calvin’s dedication to” the Gamber volunteer fire company. “His personality and devotion will never be forgotten. In every role, Calvin touched your lives with charm and wit, with courage and hope, with kindness and love. And I’m sure that it was a great reunion at the heavenly gate when Calvin arrived this past Wednesday…
“Calvin became for all, the model of what it means to be an honest hard working sensitive adult. And now, as long as you live in the memory of his witness and faith, he will always live through you…
“We have been blessed with various gifts of service. We give thanks for the life of Calvin W. Brothers and say thank you for his 46 years of service to the Gamber and Community Volunteer Fire Company and the Gamber community. We are grateful for his time and commitment for the betterment of others.”
According to attribute ob the fire company website by
Gamber fire company treasurer Clay Myers, Brothers was the husband of Carol Ann Brothers who died in 2010. Surviving are daughter and son-in-law Jen and Chad Dean of Odenton, sons and daughter-in-law Rick Bartels of Glen Burnie, and John and Alisha Bartels of Gamber.
Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law Robert Brothers of Gamber, Luther L. and Eva M. Brothers of Gamber, and Carl Melvin and Bonnie Brothers of Traverse City, MI, sister Joan Gist of Gamber, and grandchildren Kera Jefcoat, Kaitlyn Crabtree, Tyler Bartels and Olivia Hope Bartels, and great grandson Layton Jefcoat.
He was predeceased by his sisters Grace Shipley, Jeanette Robertson, Marietta Clark, and Amelia Sue Green, his brother-in-law Richard Gist, and his grandson John Eric Bartels.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 2, 2012, at 10:00 am at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel with Deacon Charles Barnhart officiating. Interment was at the Providence Cemetery, Gamber.
Photo of Calvin W. Brothers in uniform courtesy of the Gamber and Community Fire Department
Kevin Dayhoff: A Tribute to Calvin Brothers, long serving firefighter, 4-H volunteer and Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County
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