Longtime Cranberry fireman dies
CRANBERRY TWP — For nearly 60 years, Ray Wetzel welcomed new members of the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company with a grin. He served both his community and his church. He inspired joy and confidence in those with whom he spoke.
Wetzel served as the fire company's president twice, worked his way through the ranks to assistant chief and for years served on the township's police council. He worked with the volunteer ambulance corps — the modern ambulance service's forerunner — and was named citizen of the year in 2006.
After six decades of service to his neighbors, Wetzel died Sunday at age 92. On Thursday, a score of Cranberry firefighters attended Wetzel's funeral at Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church to honor and respect his contributions.
"The fire company was founded in 1959, so (he was) a pretty early member, a pretty formative member," said Bruce Hezlep of the fire company. "If you were involved in public safety in those years, Ray Wetzel was a big part of it. We're fortunate to have him serve for so long."
Although Wetzel wasn't fighting fires anymore, Hezlep said his involvement in the fire corps and the community could still be felt.
"You would see him come to the annual dinners, social events, and do fire safety things. He participated up until, probably, five or six years ago," Hezlep said. "That's when he started increasing activities with our church. The minister (Thursday) morning was talking about how he would just show up in the sanctuary and vacuum or just do anything that was necessary.
"He would do it when people weren't around. He wasn't seeking the limelight, so to speak, just that quiet, confident service."
The fire company life member's "quiet, confident" service displayed itself in all interactions with others, according to Hezlep.
"He was a friend to everyone, and I know that sounds kind of trite, but he was welcoming to everyone in the fire company," Hezlep said. "Every interaction you had with him, you'd come out feeling better about yourself and your relationship with him. Ray was just someone that everyone in our church and everyone in our fire company loved."
Their love for Wetzel was equal to Wetzel's respect for those around him. Outside of 57 years of service, Wetzel's personality shone through in his view on life. Hezlep described Wetzel as someone who always had a grin — he would tell a joke and there would be "a twinkle in his eye."
"He was always happy. He had an optimistic view of life and his intersection with everyone just reflected it," Hezlep said. "Which makes it all the more difficult to lose him."
Many of those present during Wetzel's funeral may not have known him personally, but those in Cranberry public safety knew Wetzel had worked for years in the fire service, Hezlep said, adding, “you don't have to know someone to respect and honor them.”
"I go back to what his daughter said to me: 'I thought people had forgotten about what he had done,'" Hezlep said. "But we haven't. And we won't."
