Viewing Today for Ex-Santa Ana Fire Chief

A viewing will be held today for former Mayor and Fire Chief John Garthe, who died at the age of 86 after suffering a massive stroke.

Garthe died Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

After joining the city’s Fire Department in 1924 as a volunteer, Garthe worked his way through the ranks. He retired in 1970 after 22 years as chief.

Although he vowed to relax upon his retirement, Garthe instead became active again in city affairs, winning a seat on the City Council in 1971. He served on the council for six years, and was mayor from 1976 to 1977.

After leaving the council, Garthe remained active in civic affairs, representing the city on the Metropolitan Water District board for 14 years until his retirement in 1992.

Garthe, a member of the Masonic Lodge, served on the board of directors for the Orange County Salvation Army and was a former president of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs Assn.

Born in Addy, Wash., on Nov. 21, 1906, he graduated from the University of Southern California’s Fire Academy in 1937.

He married his first wife, J. Isabelle Brown, in 1930. After her death in 1983, he married Laura Baker.

Garthe is survived by his wife and two sons, Richard of Placentia and John R. of Reno; two sisters, Martha Lamberth of Louisiana and Alma Anderson of Santa Cruz; two stepdaughters, Donna Bidwell of Yorba Linda and Denise Fleck of England; 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Viewing will take place today at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 E. Fairhaven Ave. in Santa Ana, from 2 to 8 p.m. Services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Ana, at 600 N. Main St.

From there, a full honor procession of firetrucks will proceed to the burial site at Santa Ana Cemetery.

The family is asking that donations be made to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Los Angeles.