O.B. Overton was a charter member of the fire department and one of its founding fathers. He died Sunday after a lengthy illness.

Six firefighters and two alternates will serve as his pallbearers at his funeral service, which will begin at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Askew Funeral and Cremation Services and end with his internment at Cedarwood Cemetery.

“He's done a whole lot for the fire department and the community,” firefighter Michael Kidd said this morning. “If it wasn't for him we wouldn't be where we're at. He had a hand in everything. Every truck and every building, he's had a hand in one way or another.”

Davie Fire Chief David Padgett said, “We've lost a very instrumental part of our fire department.”

Overton and the other charter members, who founded the department in 1966, Padgett said, “Are the reason we are here today. He put in a lot of hard work and went a long way to get us to where we are today.”

Overton was a likeable person, Padgett said. “I think everyone in the fire department loved him. O.B. was an intelligent person with a great sense of humor. He was very instrumental in helping, When we had new members the guys took a liking to him right away.”

Overton taught members the department's rules and regulations. “He helped form the fire department into what it is today. He helped make financial decisions and formulated the plans for the new building.”

Padgett said the fire department bought the land for a new fire station. “O.B., as part of the board, put it forward. You paid attention to what O.B. said and everybody looked up to him. He had very sound principles about him.”

The decision to start a fire department in the Davie community came from having to rely on other fire departments to fight fires, said Padgett.

Roanoke Rapids, one of the responding agencies, helped Davie form and Overton was one of those working to help build the department. “O.B. was like a brother to me,” Padgett recalled, and even when he no longer fought fires would often come to calls. “When there got to be tension or friction, O.B. was the one to offer to say something to break the tension. O.B. was the one to turn to, he was never shy and always gave you his opinion and would steer you in the right direction.”

Before there was a tax-supported fire district, Overton was one of the members working behind the scenes, cooking for fundraisers. “He did more than his share to keep the fire department going,” Padgett said. “He did that for the fire department and other organizations. He was very dedicated and loyal to the fire department. There was no doubt about it, O.B. had a love for his community. He was always willing to help anybody he saw that needed help.”

Padgett will serve as an alternate pallbearer for Overton's funeral. “It's very meaningful. I'm glad his family is allowing us to pay a final tribute and farewell honor because we loved him so much.”