Remembering Ted Yarbrough

Following is a reposting from the Press Enterprise and elsewhere.

Former fire captain had love for the outdoors
By ERIN WALDNER
The Press-Enterprise

Just 2 ½ months into retirement, Ted Yarbrough, a former Riverside County fire captain, died Sunday after a heart attack. He was 60.

"We'll miss him," said his son, Andy Yarbrough, of Banning.

He said his dad, a Cherry Valley resident, was enjoying retirement and spending time with his grandchildren.

Mr. Yarbrough, who worked in Banning, left the job in November.

"He just knew it was time," said his longtime friend and former Banning fire chief, Bob Tinker, of Beaumont. "He was looking forward to retirement."

Mr. Yarbrough hadn't completely given up working. Just last week he was talking with Banning city officials about assisting the city in disaster preparedness on a contract basis.

"He was looking forward to coming back and doing that," Mayor Bob Botts said.

Mr. Yarbrough was born Aug. 22, 1948, in San Fernando and later moved with his family to Highland. He went to work for the U.S. Forest Service in 1967 as a firefighter and remained with the agency until 1990.

Andy Yarbrough said that when his dad was younger he enjoyed the thrill of firefighting. As he got older, his enjoyment came more from a love of the forest.

Mr. Yarbrough went to work for the city of Banning in 1990.

The city contracts with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department for fire protection. Upon his retirement, Mr. Yarbrough was the fire captain and fire marshal in Banning.

"He was very good at his job," said Banning Fire Chief Jeff Stowells. "Everyone respected him."

Tinker said Mr. Yarbrough was a good firefighter because he was willing to learn and wanted to improve. He said his friend was dedicated to his work as well as his family.

Mr. Yarbrough and his wife, Francie, were married for 36 years.

Their daughter, Becky Pellegrini, of Cherry Valley, said that when she and her brother were growing up, their dad took them fishing, camping and for rides in his Jeep. "Lots of outdoor stuff," she said.

As a dad, she said, "he was the best."

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands, followed by a memorial service at noon at Fellowship in the Pass Church in Beaumont.

--

From the CDF Firefighters website and e-mails:

The services for Retired Fire Captain Ted Yarbrough will be held this Friday, 01/23/09. Graveside services will be 10:00 at Hillside Cemetery 1540 Alessandro Rd Redlands, CA 92373. Church service and reception will follow 12:00 at Fellowship in the Pass Church 650 Oak Valley Parkway Beaumont, CA 92223 The family has requested the administrative uniform be worn for department members attending, and that donations, instead of flowers, be made to:

Wildland Firefighter Foundation 2049 Airport Way Boise, ID 83705 ph 877-336-2950

Cards may be sent to Francie Yarbrough & Family at:
10081 Avenida Mira Villa
Cherry Valley, CA 92223

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Francie (Wife), Becky (Daughter), and Andy (Son) have all been employed with the Forest Service at one time or other as a seasonal firefighter, AD logistics support person, or as an expanded dispatcher. Firefighting for the Yarbrough Family was a part of their life.

Ted worked on three districts of the San Bernardino National Forest in his career (Cajon, San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio) before accepting a position with the City of Banning Fire Department as Fire Marshal. In 1998, Ted became a CDF Fire Captain Specialist when the City of Banning entered into a Schedule A Contract with the state.

Early in his career, Ted was severely injured (broken back) while serving as a firefighter while on the Del Rosa Hotshots. Even through the accident that resulted in the loss of life of a friend and fellow crewmember, Ted recovered and led forward, and touched the lives of hundreds, if not more, of others as he continued to be a leader, a friend, and just an all around inspirational firefighter to others.

A few years back, Ted attended the 60th Year Anniversary of the Del Rosa Hotshots. He recounted experiences of the tragic accident to some close friends and fellow firefighters, and had a chance to share his experiences with folks that served on the crew before him and after him. It was appreciated by many, even though it was obviously not a memory of his career he wanted to remember.

Ted excelled and was a leader everywhere he went and participated, both within the fire service as well as in his community. He was a Forest Ranger by all intents and purposes. A leader in his community.

He will be missed by many, and even more by his loving family.

Our condolences on Ted's passing. Ab.