Submitted by his daughter

Woodrow Pinkerton was a fire police officer with the Union Fire Company in Medford New Jersey. He was a 20-year veteran of the company and past vice president. At the time of his death he was the captain of the fire police officers. He was the first person in the nearly 200-year history of the Union Fire Company to be killed in the line of duty.

Woodrow‚ or ‘Woody’‚ was noted as a fun-loving jokester who was always there to help out someone in need. He was the type of man who would give you his last cent if he knew you needed it. Many of the younger fireman in his company have said how they looked up to him as a leader and a friend despite the age differences between them.

Woody loved being a fire police officer from the minute he joined the company. He was never a fireman‚ as a lot of fire policeman once were‚ but that didn’t matter to him. He knew his role was just as important. The danger involved didn’t seem to bother him. He knew someone had to do it and was very proud that he was the one out there. Whatever he could do to help‚ that’s what mattered most.

Woody was directing traffic at the scene of an accident on February 23‚ 2003 when another car came through the scene and struck him. He was rushed to the hospital where at first his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. He was awake and talking for the first week after the accident. It was during this time that he made a comment to the chief of his company. He told him‚ ‘If it had to happen to someone‚ I’m glad it was be and not the other guys standing near me’. That tells you a little bit of what type of a man Woody was. Unfortunately‚ his internal injuries were worse than originally thought and he spent the next two months in the ICU before succumbing to his death on April 19‚ 2003‚ just a few days short of his 64th birthday.

Woodrow Wilson Pinkerton is survived by his wife Elaine‚ his daughters Sharon and Robyn‚ his son-in-law Craig and his two grandsons Justin and Zachary all of Medford New Jersey.