NICOLE LOZARE
Firehouse.Com News

Firefighters in Pennsylvania and Texas are mourning the deaths of two 30-year veteran firefighters who died on January 17.

Volunteer firefighter Ernest Young of Rochester, Penn. died from head injuries he sustained in a fall and Captain Juan Gilbert De Leon of McAllen, Texas suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty.

Young, 52, was helping replace garage door openers at the Big Knob Volunteer Fire Department when he fell off the 12 feet high ladder. He was flown to the University of Pittsburg Medical Center where he was operated on for the multiple fractures in his skull. He died the next day due to bleeding in his brain according to Chief P.J. Moldovan.

"He wouldn't lead nobody in the wrong direction," said Chief Moldovan who served with Young for 14 years."He always corrected everyone so noone got hurt."

Young served as the Head Trustee of the department and as a paramedic for Medic Rescue in nearby Beaver County. He worked as a shipping receiver for Paragon Tradebrands. He spent his spare time with his family, the church and hunting with the other firefighters.

"He was a father figure to everyone in the department," said Chief Moldovan. Firefighter and brother-in-law Lonnie Vodenichar, who served with Young for 30 years, remembers how Young stayed with a fellow firefighter and his ill daughter at the hospital until they found out what was wrong with the little girl.

"We had out first call yesterday...it was hard to climb back up in that truck,"said Vodenichar who also just lived a block away from Young."I was always in the officer's seat and he was always my driver...it's going to be hard thinking of what it would be like without him there."

Young is survived by his wife Linda, and their three children, Amy, Stacey and Timothy. Donations for Firefighter Ernest Young can be sent to the Big Knob Volunteer Fire Department at 1229 Route 989, Rochester, PA 15074.

Donations for Firefighter Young can be sent to the Big Knob Volunteer Fire Department 1229 Route 989, Rochester, PA 15074.

Captain Juan Gilbert De Leon was also on-duty when he passed away. He was performing administrative duties when the 53-year old had a heart attack. Fellow firefighters used CPR before an ambulance took him to Rio Grande Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

De Leon served as a firefighter for 31 years in the town where he grew up. He decided to join the fire department after his firefighting experience in the Air Force.

"He liked being a firefighter," said Assistant Chief Joe Garza."He was easy going and liked to help people."

Garza describes De Leon as a very professional man."It was his attitude and the way he handled himself," said Garza."The department will greatly miss him. he was an asset to the department and the citizens of McAllen."

De Leon is survived by his wife Linda and his daughter.