VANING, BELL

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 08:03:20 :

Independent Journal
Wednesday, October 4, 1978
Page 4

WALKER B. VANING

A private family service for Walker Bell Vaning, 83, of San Rafael, a retired battalion chief of the San Rafael Fire Department, was held Tuesday at Keaton’s Mortuary, San Rafael.

Vaning died Saturday at a local hospital after an illness. He had been a member of the San Rafael Fire Department from Dec. 1, 1918, until he retired in June 1960.

Vaning rose to the rank of first assistant fire chief and became battalion chief prior to his retirement.

He joined the volunteers when he was 21 and two years later became the city’s first paid fireman.

During his career Vaning fought many major blazes in San Rafael, including the fire that destroyed the Hotel Rafael in 1928.

Vaning was a native and lifelong resident of San Rafael. He was born at 611 Fifth Ave., home of his grandfather, Thomas Bell, and attended the old B St. School at Fifth Avenue and B Street.

The City of San Rafael purchased the present site of the main fire station at Fifth and C streets from the Vaning family.

Vaning was a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a life member of Wilkins Post 37, American Legion, and a member of the California State Fire Association and was a San Rafael Police Department deputy.

During his off-duty hours he was a sportsman, wood craftsman and ardent historian of San Rafael and Marin County.

Surviving are his wife, Stephanie Vaning of San Rafael; a daughter, Eden Vaning of Racine, Wis., and Walker S. Vaning of Dallas, Tex.

Entombment was at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael. The family prefers that memorial contributions be made to a favorite charity.