MD Firefighter Who Died Of COVID-19 Memorialized

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A career firefighter who started his journey in the fire service with the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company was memorialized this weekend.

Firefighter and paramedic Robert A. "Bobby" Jones died Jan. 20 after battling COVID-19, which he contracted in December while serving Carroll County.

His was the first line of duty death for the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company in Westminster, the Carroll County Department Fire and EMS and Carroll County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics IAFF Local 5184.

He put up a "hard fight" and suffered "multiple complications" before succumbing to the virus, according to the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company.

During his decades as a firefighter and paramedic, he "saved many, many lives," Reese Volunteer Fire Company President Kenneth Hyde told WMAR.

Jones received full line-of-duty honors in a memorial service at the Westminster High School auditorium on Sunday. The family requested no live-streaming, organizers said.

More than 100 firefighters attended the service, where a representative for Gov. Larry Hogan made a presentation and those who worked with Jones gave remarks, according to the Baltimore Sun, which reported Maryland State Police conducted a flyover at his grave site.

A large procession accompanied Jones on his "last ride," from Westminster High School to the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Fallen Heroes section. This was the route Sunday afternoon: I-97 north to MD 140 east to I-795 south to I-695 to I-83 north to Padonia Road.

Firefighters also turned out in force to escort Jones on Jan. 21 when his body was taken from Anne Arundel Medical Center to the funeral home.

More Than 40 Years Of Fire Service

Jones entered the fire service in 1978 as a member of the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company, where he remained a life member, officials said.

He joined the Baltimore County Fire Department Academy in 1982 as a firefighter recruit and served as a career paramedic/firefighter at various stations around the county, with Catonsville as his home station, until he retired in 2012 as a fire lieutenant.

In the late 1980s, he joined the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company in Westminster part-time until he became a full-time paramedic, firefighter and engineer in 2007, officials said.

His service also included the following organizations:

• Lansdowne Volunteer Fire Department, where he volunteered 2011–2013
• Cape Saint Claire Volunteer Fire Department from January 2013 until his death, promoted in May 2021 to fire lieutenant
• IAFF Local 1311 (Baltimore County Professional Fire Fighters) career-long member
• Local 5184 (Carroll County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics) career-long member

Jones was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by his mother, father, four siblings, two stepdaughters, and two grandchildren, according to officials.

The viewing was 2–8 p.m. on Saturday in the social hall at the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company, before Sunday's memorial service at Westminster High School.