Summary: Chief Farnham led the Willow Park Fire Department for 18 years. This week, Chief Farnham is missed and honored by Willow Park citizens, friends, and family. In 1989 he became fire chief for the Willow Park Fire Department; ten years later he retired, only to return to the chief’s position in 2004 by the city’s request.
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Former Willow Park Fire Department Chief Robert Farnham passes.
Chief Farnham led the Willow Park Fire Department for 18 years. This week, Chief Farnham is missed and honored by Willow Park citizens, friends, and family.
Shortly after moving his family to Willow Park in 1985, Farnham served on the Willow Park City Council before he volunteered to work in the Willow Park Fire Department.
In 1989 he became fire chief for the department; ten years later he retired, only to return to the chief’s position in 2004 by the city’s request.
"The chief said. “It’s welcoming when you go into stores and people say ‘Hi Chief.’
Railroads, city government, and the desire to help out his community all contributed to Farnham’s future in the fire house... *1
• Robert "Bob" Farnham
July 17, 1940 - November 29, 2023
Robert "Bob" Farnham departed from this life on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at age 83. Bob was born July 17, 1940, in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Maurice Farnham and Esther (Luymes) Farnham. He worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad for 34 years which eventually brought him to Texas where he lived for 39 years. He enjoyed hunting, the outdoors, horseback riding, legend race car driving, and his service in the Willow Park Fire Department where he served as Chief for 18 years. He was predeceased by his parents and eldest grandson, Jason Lyons Stone.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Janice "Jan” Farnham; and their three children, Barbara Stone (and husband, Don Stone), Michael Farnham (and wife, Trena Farnham), and Michelle White (and husband, Derek White); as well as six grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of whom he was very proud.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Faith Presbyterian Church, 301 Bailey Ranch Rd., Aledo, Texas. Funeral following visitation at 11:00 a.m. Burial at Annetta Cemetery, 2667 W FM5, Annetta, Texas, following the funeral.
*1 From railroad to fire hose ... Fire Chief Bob Farnham is loving life, Weatherford Democrat, 29 March 2006 [in .pdf]
Willow Park Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Bob Farnham never gave much thought to fire fighting until he came to Parker County.
Born in Aberdeen, S. D., Farnham and his family moved to Saint Paul, Minn., after he completed the third grade.
Farnham remained in Saint Paul until, at the age of 19, he joined the Army. He served overseas in Korea for 13 months as a radio operator, responsible for relaying messages between command posts.
Upon returning to the states he served out the remainder of his term and, although he said he enjoyed military life, he left the service with an honorable discharge.
He then returned to Saint Paul where he met his wife, Janice.
After his leaving the Army he was looking for employment, but fire fighting still wasn’t on his mind.
After a short stint working in advertising sales for a small tire company, Farnham took a job with Northern Pacific Railroad where he would remain until his early retirement from the company in 1995.
Working as a human resources development director for the railroad company would lead Farnham to Texas and eventually Willow Park.
When relocating, Farnham said he and his wife looked at more than 50 houses until they found the perfect one, which just happened to be in Willow Park.
“We looked at so many houses in the Metroplex,” he said. “When my wife said she liked it, I said ‘sold.’”
Shortly after setting up shop in Parker County with his wife and three children, Farnham was approached, in 1985, with an opportunity to run for the city council.
“I had always lived in a big city and running for council there is not really an option because it is so costly,” he said.
He won the election and served a two-year term.
Serving on the city council would be the roundabout path that would lead him to fire fighting.
According to Farnham, during a meeting, the fire chief at the time addressed the council concerning the dire straits the department was in. They were in need of equipment, but more importantly they desperately needed volunteers.
The next week, Farnham himself answered the call by signing on to become a Volunteer Firefighter for the city.
“If it hadn’t been for the fire chief asking for help, I may not have gotten involved,” he said.
He became fire chief for the department in 1989, and 10 years later he would retire, only to return to the chief’s position in 2004 by the city’s request.
Although, he admits that he never considered fire fighting as a career, he said he wouldn’t change a thing.
“In order to be a firefighter you have to have a passion,” he said. “It has been a great time with great people.” Farnham’s wife, Janice, agreed that he never thought about his current career, but it is a perfect fit for him.
“It was something he never thought about,” she said. “But once he got involved that was it. It certainly makes him happy, he’s an adrenaline junkie.” Farnham said he still enjoys his job, even though now it mostly consists of administrative duties.
“I don’t fight many structure fires anymore,” he said. “I miss not going out on the truck, but age has it’s limitations.” He may never have intended to fight fires, but today he is known around the Willow Park community as simply Chief, and that is something he has come to enjoy.
“It makes me feel good,” he said. “It’s welcoming when you go into stores and people say ‘Hi Chief.’” Railroads, city government, and the desire to help out his community all contributed to Farnham’s future in the fire house, and today, upon reflection, he said he has loved every minute of it.
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