It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that the Keystone Fire Company No 1 of Shillington announces the passing of past Fire Chief Edward “Pop” Squibb.

Chief Squibb served as the Fire Chief of the Keystone Fire Company for 31 years from 1959 through 1990.  During his tenure he led the Department in the design and building of the current fire station as well as placing five pieces of apparatus into service.  Ed was a pioneer in the fire service and during his tenure was instrumental in creating and developing the auto rescue services within the County of Berks.  The Keystone Fire Department was one of the first to develop and prepare its firefighters in auto rescue.  This evolved over time under his vision to include other types of rescue, including but not limited to bus rescue, ice rescue, confined space, and high angle rescue.

Chief Squibb also understood the importance of relationships, including with the Shillington Borough’s municipal officials.  Pop Squibb always maintained a positive and cordial relationship with the Borough’s officials during his 31 years of his service in the community.  After retiring as fire chief, he used his knowledge, skills, and understanding of the borough to serve as the codes enforcement officer.  Chief Squibb’s contributions to the company and the Shillington community are immeasurable.

Chief Squibb was a mentor to generations of emergency service personnel and knew the value of shaping and developing young firefighters. This accomplishment was possibly his most outstanding among a plethora of fire service and community accomplishments.  Pop Squibb not only developed an unknown number of firefighters, but also coached and developed dozens of fire officers and fire chiefs.

To Pop, one of his proudest accomplishments was his influence on two particular young firefighters who both went on to become chiefs.  Those two are his sons, Jeffrey Lloyd and Bruce Lee.  Jeff became a career firefighter for the Reading Fire Department and eventually retired as the chief of the department.  Bruce served as the Shillington Fire Chief and remains active today as the Shillington Fire Marshall & Shillington Fire Department Vice President.

As a natural leader and visionary, Chief Squibb knew what training meant to the future of the fire service. In the 1980s, he, along with a few other like-minded fire service leaders, saw an opportunity to create a permanent home for firefighters to receive training in Berks County.  Until that time, the closest thing to a training facility in Berks County was a location on the grounds of the state hospital in Wernersville where occasional “fire schools” were held.  Chief Squibb was adamant that training made for better and safer firefighters and in the end served the public to a higher standard. Ed, along with his associates, understood that the rapidly changing fire service needed a more appropriate location where training could be conducted in a geographically central location with safety of the students and the instructor as the central focus; not only to the Shillington Fire Department and Borough, but to the entire County fire service.  They lobbied local officials at the County and City of Reading and through their efforts, the ground work was laid for what is now the Berks County Fire Training Center on Fritz’s Island.  Pop continued his involvement at the training facility well into 2020.  Countless students benefitted from his gentle (and sometimes properly less than gentle if you were being reckless or unsafe) guidance when evolutions were being taught and practiced.

Chief Squibb spent a lifetime of building relationships and promoting the fire service of the future. Chief Squibb’s lifetime of service and achievements distinguished him as an innovative leader in Berks County emergency services.  His service to the Borough of Shillington and the Berks County community will be felt as a positive impact for generations to come and is truly a legacy worth celebrating.

On a personal note, Pop Squibb was an avid outdoorsman, enjoyed horticultural activities and was a family man that cherished being a grandfather and great-grandfather.

The Members of the Company are indebted to Chief “Pop” Squibb for his contributions to the fire service, the Borough of Shillington and the Berks County community.

Services are planned to be private for family and close relatives only.  There will be a procession from those services at the Klee Funeral Home to the Fairview Cemetery.  That procession will pass both the former and current fire houses Wednesday January 5^th 2022.   Area fire departments who want to honor Pop have been asked to line the processional route.

Those who know Pop can hear him answer our “Rest Easy Pop We got it from hear” with his chuckle of You Bet.