Joseph B. Timoney, 85, former Wyndmoor fire company chief

Joseph B. Timoney, 85, of Wyndmoor, former fire chief of Wyndmoor Hose Company No. 1, whose work in various roles with the company spanned 62 years, died of cancer Nov. 22 at his home.

Mr. Timoney joined the Montgomery County fire company as a volunteer in 1948, when the job was "a neighborhood thing," said the station's current chief, Francis DePaul.

As firefighting became more advanced, he learned the latest techniques and passed them on to younger members.

"Joe was teacher and a student," DePaul said. "He taught us the technology. When it changed, he changed along with it."

Mr. Timoney served as an officer of the company's board of directors for 31 years, and as fire chief beginning in the mid-1970s. He held that post for 20 years, DePaul said, presiding over the station's 45 members.

He was financial secretary for 23 years. During that time, he supervised construction of a new fire station.

After retirement, Mr. Timoney stayed on the board of directors. In 1992, he became safety officer, appearing at fires to monitor safety procedures and then producing charts to document what he had seen.

"He would use Magic Marker in all different colors," DePaul said. Mr. Timoney held the job until shortly before his death, DePaul said.

The chief also served as unofficial historian of the fire company. "He had us down there every weekend, telling us things we needed to know," DePaul said.

Mr. Timoney was born and raised in Wyndmoor, and lived there all his life. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1943. He worked in King of Prussia as a building supervisor for Pennsalt Chemical Corp., now Elf Atochem North America.

He was a member of the Springfield Township Fire Board and a charter member of the Montgomery County Fire Board. From 1986 to 1996, he chaired the county fire board and played a major role in construction of the Montgomery County Fire Academy.

He met his wife, the former Norita Hartley, at a Sunday-night church dance. The two married in 1951.

Surviving in addition to his wife are sons Joseph B. Jr. and Gregory; a daughter, Audrey Fasy; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church, 1200 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor. Afterward, fire apparatus will parade through Wyndmoor, led by a 1924 Hahn pumper carrying the chief to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.

"He wanted to be carried to his grave on that truck," DePaul said. "He rode on that truck as a young man." Crossed ladders will be positioned at the cemetery entrance.

Memorial donations may be made to Wyndmoor Hose Company No. 1, 1043 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor, Pa. 19038.