Found this this week from New Hanover County. Wrightsboro Fire Chief Ed Wright died in the line of duty on July 9, 1960. He suffered a cardiac event while directing operations at a fire in the Rock Hill community.
Chief Wright, 58, was found slumped by a fire truck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Walker Memorial Hospital.

Owner and operator of a dry cleaning establishment, Wright was credited as organizing the Wrightsboro Volunteer Fire Department in 1950. And a year later, donated the land on where their fire station stood.
He had been chief of department for five years and was the first assistant fire chief in 1950. He likely served as assistant fire chief in subsequent years. The text of his obituary is below.

Historical Perspective

From Legeros research, this raises the total of 17 known FD LODDs in New Hanover County history:

1868 – Wilmington – Richard Merrick
1868 – Wilmington – Robert Bellamy
1880 – Wilmington – William Ellerbrock
1893 – Wilmington – Joseph Willard
1932 – Wilmington – Willie Monroe
1933 – Wilmington – Charles Schnibben
1935 – Wilmington – Raymond Core
1941 – Wilmington – Emmett Williamson
1956 – Wilmington – Oscar Willis
1960 – Wrightsboro – Edward Wright
1972 – Wilmington – Burleigh Scotton
1981 – Wrightsville Beach – Robert Wynn
1987 – Wilmington – Harold Sandlin
2013 – New Hanover – David Heath
2014 – Wilmington – Eric Lacewell
2019 – Kure Beach – Dennis Ebersole
2020 – Kure Beach – Harold Heglar

Obituary

Funeral services for Edward Baker Wright, 58, of 572 Castle Hayne Rd., who died Saturday, will be conducted today at 3 p.m. from the Chapel of Andrews Mortuary.

The Rev. E. A. Dasher, assisted by the Rev. Frank A. Elliott and the Rev. A. B. Bumgarner, will officiate. Interment will be in Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Bobby Seitter, Roger Seitter, David A. Seitter, William Funderburg, Ed M. Meyland and Robert Hooker Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be E. B. Ward, L. G. Herring, W. C. Ramseur, Herbert Rivenbark, J. T. Padgett, L. E. Sikes, W. A. Spencer, N. B. Lanier, Robert Chadwick, James Middleton, George Hilliard, J. W. Guyton, W. T. Miar Sr., Bobby Myers and James S. Caison.

Also Howard H. Caison, P. H. Braak, J. W. Croom, Clayton Fountain, Elbert Lennon, Dirk Swart Jr., Gerrit Swart, Hendrick Swart, H. T. Newland, Hooper Johnson Sr., Allan Perryman, George W. Barfield, and J. E. L. Wade.

Also George W. Trask Sr., Ed Godwin Jr., Ivey McGee, N. E. Martin, L. W. Malpass Sr., Columbus L. Ritter, E. L. Wilson, J. C. Frye, members of the Wrightsboro Volunteer Fire Department, and representatives from the volunteer fire departments of New Hanover County.