Whitehall Township and its residents are mourning the passing of Fire Chief Robert (Bob) Benner, 80, who died March 30.

American flags have been lowered to half-staff at the five fire stations and the municipal building and will remain there for 30 days. Black bunting graces the fire training compound and the fire department buildings.

Family and friends paid their respects to Benner, who served as Whitehall’s full-time fire chief, during two days of events celebrating his life and countless contributions to the township. His passing has not only caused a void in the township’s history, but his death is felt by fire companies across Lehigh and Northampton counties and beyond since the township fire training facility, which he created several years ago, trained countless firefighters from across the region. The facility had actual live fire drills along with classroom training.

Paying homage to the man many called Chief or Bobby took place Sunday with an honor procession - a “last ride” for the chief - led by the township’s fire companies, Cementon, Egypt, Fullerton, Hokendauqua and West Catasauqua. The hearse carrying Benner’s casket proceeded from the Lehigh Valley Mall parking lot to Sixth and Grape streets, Fullerton; north on MacArthur Road to Roosevelt Street, Egypt; and back to St. John’s United Church of Christ, 575 Grape St., Fullerton, where the viewing began 4 p.m.

The hearse passed under two aerial fire trucks, which hoisted a large American flag, on the way to the church.

Services began 11 a.m. Monday at St. John’s UCC, with the Rev. Dr. Becky J. Beckwith officiating.

Interment at Garden of Peace cemetery, Fullerton Avenue, was private. The township’s firefighters and officers attended. Benner’s daughter, Cynthia R., was given the American flag that draped the casket.

Taps were played by a bugler.

At the close of the service, a “last call” was made to Benner - a 911 call from the Lehigh County center: “Calling Chief Benner 3501. Are you there?”

Also present for the services were fire departments from all across the Lehigh Valley, including Allen Township, Catasauqua, East Allen Township, Lehigh Township, Northampton, North Catasauqua, Han-Le-Co, Allentown, Cetronia, Emmaus, Fountain Hill, Greenawalds, New Tripoli, Slatedale, Slatington, South Whitehall Township and Weisenberg Township.

Many commented on Benner’s passing and his dedicated service over three decades.

“On Wednesday, God made the second call to our Chief Robert ‘Bobby’ Benner to report to a better place,” Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. said. “When Mr. (J. Walter) Hackman, the founder of Hackman’s Bible Store, passed away, a beautiful keepsake was given to everyone at the funeral. The keepsake had the following inscription that is appropriate for the passing of Chief Benner: ‘Service is the rent we pay for our stay on Earth. Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

Joseph Shambo was named acting fire chief by Hozza with Benner’s passing. Shambo, whose volunteer firefighting career spans the three decades that Benner was at the helm, said the chief was a 24/7 firefighter, most times the first arriving at the scene when a call came in.

“I don’t know if I will ever meet anyone else with more dedication to volunteer fire service than the chief,” Shambo said.

Longtime Whitehall Township Commissioner Linda Snyder called Benner “a firefighter’s firefighter, a gentleman and one who led by example.

“I loved him and respected him as our chief and as a man,” she said.

Commissioners President Phillips Armstrong said, “Chief Benner will be sorely missed because he spent his entire life serving the citizens of Whitehall, not just as fire chief but also running Benner’s Market and his catering business.”

Benner also visited with students in the Whitehall-Coplay School District, especially during Fire Safety Week in the fall, where for years he hosted Lunch with the Chief.

“Chief Benner was always good for the Whitehall-Coplay School District,” Steckel Elementary School Principal Glenn Noack said. “Every year during October, he would visit the school with his people and fire truck. He will be missed.”

Other reminders of Benner’s legacy include essay contests for public and private students and the fire department’s Haunted Parkway hayride, where he manned the refreshment stand.

Few recall Benner began his career in retail by becoming a huckster selling produce and food off a truck, then opening Benner’s Market at Third and Park streets, Fullerton, with his wife, Geraldine.

In 1967, Benner got involved with Fullerton Fire Company at a time when the township was at the cusp of unprecedented growth - expansion that included a Two Guys from Harrison department store, the widening of MacArthur Road and more.

With such a growth, schools, homes and the fire department also grew. Benner, a volunteer firefighter at the time, rose through the ranks and was appointed fire marshal under then-Chief William Balliet. In 1986, when Balliet retired, Benner was named fire chief.

Hozza said Benner began as chief with a township manager and every township executive since then: Edward Galgon, Michael Harakal, Elizabeth Buchmiller, Glenn Solt, Daniel McNeill and Hozza himself.

There were notable fires during Benner’s tenure, such as at Fullerton Furniture Galleries, Mickley Run Apartments, Maryland Circle, the Columbia Avenue gas explosion, Palace Gardens, Blue Fox Hotel and Helfrich Springs Apartments.

Hozza said he would look forward to Benner’s weekly reports, telling various stories, from ducklings saved in a storm drain, to a resident needing to be rescued after being locked in a family’s bathroom and to his code words for a DUI - “being influenced by the devil.”

“I don’t know what we would have done without him,” Snyder said. “He was able to keep all our volunteer firefighters together, which kept our taxes from not rising and our homes safe.”