NICOLE LOZARE
Firehouse.Com News

Lee A. Purdy asked his wife, a paramedic, for a drink while he was operating the pump on top of the truck during a house fire in the early morning hours Jan. 8.

When she returned with his drink in hand she watched him fall off the truck. Purdy, 57, had just suffered a massive heart attack.

Purdy, a volunteer firefighter with the Spencerville, Ohio Fire Department, was rushed to St. Rita’s Hospital in Lima, Ohio where he was grew up. He was pronounced dead after 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital.

"I always said that you can’t be friends with everybody, but Lee tried," said Chief Paul Lee. “He was a well-liked person."

Lee met Purdy 12 years ago while responding to a factory fire. Purdy wanted to help so he handed him an application. Purdy’s wife Sharon also volunteers her time as a paramedic on the rescue squad.

"He was a great guy to work with…everything he did he took seriously," said Lee. Purdy also served as a Fire Safety Inspector.

Purdy divided his time between the Spencerville Fire Department and his appliance repair shop, Purdy Electric.

Funeral services were held Tuesday.