Charlie M. Deal

Charlie M. Deal, 97 Lakeland Fire Department Lakeland " Chief Deal " Lakeland Fire Department, Charlie Martin Deal was born March 17, 1915, in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Mr. Deal moved to Lakeland in 1933. Mr. Deal died May 24, 2012 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center due to natural causes. Mr. Deal, ""Chief Deal"" retired from the Lakeland Fire Department in 1982 following 42 years of employment, 28 of those years, he proudly serviced as City of Lakeland Fire Chief. Among the many achievements during his fireman days included; his being the first President of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, as well as, former President of Lakeland Firemen""s Association, former member of the International Association of Fire Chief""s, former member of Southeastern Association of Fire Chief""s, former member/lobbyist for the Florida State Firemen""s Association and former advisory committee member of Florida State Fire Marshall""s Office. Mr. Deal proudly served our Country in the United States Navy, WWII 57th Construction Battalion Seabees-South Pacific, and remained an active member with the 57th and local ""Island X2"" Navy Seabees Club until the time of his passing. Mr. Deal was a member and former elder of South Florida Avenue Church of Christ. Mr. Deal was of an extremely strong character towards faith in God, family, friends, and civic duty. Mr. Deal was also known for his love of hunting, fishing, and cooking-particularly for large groups. Mr. Deal was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Emma Mae Taylor Deal, his youngest son, Kenneth M. Deal, his brothers, Everett ""Pete"" Deal, J. Hubert Deal, Rev. James Oliver Deal, and sister, Oma Milliken. Mr. Deal is survived by his oldest son, David M. Deal, granddaughter, Rachel Hansel, three great-granddaughters, Makenna, Ava, and Raegen, all of Lakeland, his grandson and grand daughter-in-law, Derek and Heidi Deal of Brooklyn, New York, a sister-in-law, many beloved nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews in Lakeland, Sarasota, and Tallahassee, Florida, as well as in Georgia. Mr. Deal also considered himself blessed by the enormous amount of beloved friends he had. A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Heath Funeral Chapel in the Tribute Center. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 28, 2012 at 10:00 am at South Florida Avenue Church of Christ. Donations may be made to the Florida School of Preaching, 1807 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL. Service: 05/28/2012 South Florida Avenue Church of Christ 1807 South Florida Ave, Lakeland FL Heath Funeral Chapel Tribute Center Visitation: 05/27/2012 Heath Funeral Chapel Tribute Center