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MARTHA HARDCASTLE
Courtesy & Copyright Dayton Daily News - Dayton, OH
As the community of Clayton struggled to recover from the loss of an
Emergency Medical Technician in a freak accident Tuesday, firefighters from
other departments pitched in to give her co-workers time to grieve.
The family of Cindy Verburg, 47, who was killed when a 3,700-pound tree
crushed the cab of an ambulance in which she was riding injuring co-worker
Mickey Retman, said her life was devoted to giving to the community,
children and her family.
Her brother, Dan Whitman, said Mrs. Verburg was a major part of the family
business, Whitman's Bike Shops.
"She was 10 when Dad went into the business," Whitman said. "Cindy ran
everything behind the scenes, the business part of the bike shop. She was
treasurer of the corporation and she did all the advertising. She did all
the promotions and all the charity work."
"We worked on literally hundreds of bike-safety programs," Whitman said.
"She was really big on helmet safety and bicycle rodeos.
"She helped develop the program for youth that could not afford BMX that
provided bikes, equipment and helmets," Whitman said. "She just enjoyed
helping people and running with people. It's how we were raised " you always
put something in when you took something out.
When Whitman's Bike Shops closed in November, it was a blessing for Mrs.
Verburg.
"I just want people to know how happy Cindy has been since we closed " she
has had time to take care of her grandson and do more with the fire
department and go shopping " Cindy loved to shop," Whitman said.
Mrs. Verburg and her husband, Doug, and sons, Matt and Brian, opened Chain
Reaction Bicycle and Fitness in Englewood and Beavercreek in the past year.
"The boys wanted to stay in the bike business and she supported them,"
Whitman said. "She did their books for them at home."
In fact, Doug Verburg said a typical day for his wife was to work from 6
a.m. till noon on medic duty, watch grandson Conner from noon till 5 p.m.,
all the while doing paperwork and leave at 5 p.m. to run the BMX track at
Gateway Park in Dayton, which is now being renamed in her memory.
Mrs. Verburg, a 1972 graduate of Julienne High School and held a degree from
Sinclair Community College, was on the board of the Dayton Police Athletic
League and was past president of the Injury Prevention Center.
But family always came first.
"I just want everybody to know how much she loved my dad," said Brian
Verburg. "It was all about family. My mom was amazing."
Plans are under way for a full honors funeral for Mrs. Verburg, who worked
as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Clayton and former Randolph Twp.
fire departments for the past 18 years.
She is survived by her husband, Doug of Vandalia, son, Matt of Englewood;
son Brian of Englewood and grandson, Conner; sister Sandy Talley of Dayton;
brothers Dan Whitman of Englewood, Don Whitman of South Carolina, Bill
Whitman of West Carrollton, her mother, Marlene Wooley of Clayton, and
numerous nieces and nephews.
Viewing will be 3 to 8 p.m. today at Baker Hazel Funeral Home, 5555
Philadelphia Drive. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at Precious Blood
Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
The city expects more than 100 pieces of fire equipment from departments
around the Miami Valley to attend the funeral. The casket will be borne on a
fire engine past the city government center. There will also be a 21-gun
salute.
Until the funeral is over, firefighters from other departments are filling
in at Clayton fire stations to give Mrs. Verburg's co-workers a chance to
grieve.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dayton P.A.L. BMX
Association c/o Chain Reaction, Inc., 1281 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek
45432. Donations will be used to give away bicycle helmets in Cindy's
memory.
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