VIDEO: Those who knew lifelong firefighter Donald E. Whitaker said he had a love for people and a passion for fire service.
âThey didnât call him by name, it was Chief, Chief Whitakerâ Wife Ethel Whitaker said.
âYea Chief Whitaker,â Niece Jane Jones said. âChief what can I do? What do you need? It was Chief.â The Former Pleasant Garden Fire Chief passed away Sunday after a long fight with bone and lung cancer. Aside from his 50-year career in fire service, his wife and niece said many will remember him for collecting fire memorabilia.
âAt one time he had so many things that he had collected over the 50 years that we decided we would build a museum and house those things,â Ethel said.
In 2003 Donald and Ethel opened Donaldâs Fire Haven Museum. The museum sits next to their Pleasant Garden Home. Itâs packed with thousands of items.
