Peter L. Price
Peter L. Price, 85, of Stewartsville, passed away suddenly on Saturday morning, May 16, 2009. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and retired as a Captain from the Roanoke City Fire Department with 35 years service. He was a long-time active member of Belmont Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife were married 61 years ago. He was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Bettie Price; one sister, Estelle; two brothers, John and Clay; and a son, Kenneth. Surviving are his wife, Bea Pasley Price; his children, David (Carol) of Conyers, Ga., Charles (Susan) of Greenville, N.C.; one daughter, LouAnn (David) Swisher of Martinsville, Va.; three grandchildren, Beth (Steve) Carter of Covington, Ga., Greg (Veronica) Price of Winterville, N.C. and Landon Price of Nags Head, N.C.; one great-grandson, Kyle Carter of Covington, Ga.; and dearest friends, Jimmy and Gloria Jennings of Roanoke and Fred and Jean Swisher of Vinton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Belmont Presbyterian Church with Pastor Emily Hoyer officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Burial Park. Visitation will be held at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel on Monday May 18, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Flowers will be appreciated or donations may be made in his name to Belmont Presbyterian Church, 1005 Ninth Street, SE, Roanoke, Va., 24013 or to the National D-Day Memorial, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, Va., 24523. Arrangements by Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 540-982-2221.

dsc00044bCaptain Pete Price passed away yesterday. He was hired on November 1, 1948 and retired April 28, 1984. He was a true character among Roanoke’s Bravest.

I met Pete along with Robert Guthrie back about 8 years ago at another firefighter’s funeral. I do not remember who’s funeral it was, and at the time I rarely knew the retired firefighters we were burying. So there I was with some of my brothers and we were talking to Pete and Robert after the graveside service. Those guys just took to us and told us some stories. Some of the stories probably had to do with the deceased, others were just about the FD. One thing was sure; Pete and Robert were hilarious and had some great stories.

It wasn’t too long from that funeral that I bumped into Pete and Robert at another Retired Firefighter’s Funeral. Once again we enjoyed the camaraderie after the interment with Pete and Robert.

Then there was the retirees breakfasts at the Union Hall. We just wrapped up the third one and you should see the look on those guys faces when they get together. However, there were always those guys who seemed to enjoy it more…like Pete Price and Roady Kelly. Pete was all smiles and enjoyed telling the stories.

And so it was the case this past Tuesday, at the retirees breakfast, that I got to hear some of Pete’s stories again. Lucky for you all I recorded it.

I must say that Pete was one of those guys I could listen to all day long.