James Buren Death, Obituary – We regret to notify you that Mr. James T. “Tommy” Buren died away early this morning. Please accept our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and friends at this time. Tommy has been a devoted volunteer with Company 1, which is responsible for serving Prince George County, ever since the establishment of the organization in 1957. The extraordinary amount of time and effort he devoted to assisting his neighbor is a priceless legacy that he leaves behind for this community. In terms of both its breadth and its significance, it cannot be surpassed. When the first volunteer fire department in the County was founded, he and his father were among the first members to join as part of the organization’s charter.
Throughout the course of his career with the department, Tommy held a number of different roles within the organization, including those of Assistant Chief, Captain, and Treasurer. It was general knowledge that Tommy was one of the most competent and experienced drivers and pump operators in the region. This was especially true of his work in the area of pump operation. Even before there were any classes for credentials, he taught a large number of young men and women how to operate pumps efficiently and drive emergency vehicles in a risk-free manner. His students included both genders. His pupils consisted of male and female students.
His willingness to work with both children and adults in public education settings was always accompanied by a smile and a kind word. His enthusiasm for the work was contagious. This was something he consistently did throughout all of his interactions. During his 65 years of service, Tommy witnessed numerous milestones in terms of both the advancement of technology in firefighting apparatus and equipment as well as advancements in the field of personal safety. He never shied away from learning new things and expanding his skill set in order to provide all of the people who live in the communities that we serve with the highest possible level of customer service and satisfaction.
We will be indebted to him for all eternity for the leadership he provided to a large number of exceptional public employees as well as the mentoring he provided to those employees. His generosity in sharing his skills with each and every one of us, in addition to the individuals he assisted, will be remembered and cherished for all of eternity.