Eugene G. Fink

Eugene Gottlieb Fink was reunited with his Heavenly family on July 16, 2024. He was born October 12, 1936 in Guy, Texas, to Gottlieb and Lillie Schultz Fink. He was the youngest of six siblings and was raised on the family farm. While growing up on that farm, he learned about having faith in God, hard work, perseverance, community and unity of family. His life exemplified this lifestyle and this was the legacy that he passed onto his children.

In addition to his family, his next great passion was being a firefighter. He joined the West Columbia Volunteer Fire Department on September 8, 1959 and retired on September 1, 1998. During his 39 years of service to the City of West Columbia, Texas, he served as Fire Chief from 1969 to 1976 and 1987 to 1988, for a total of 10 years. He was the second longest servicing Fire Chief for WCVFD, following the founder of the department, Cecil Autry. 

He laid the foundation for the current WCVFD-even modern firefighting in Texas. He helped organize and train the Phillips 66 Fire Brigade, where he worked for almost 37 years. He also served as the first chairman of the Texas Volunteer Firefighter Certification program, where he wrote the accepted standards. In 1970, along with Mayor C.B. Gilbert, City Council, firefighters, citizens and committee representatives, he began a two year effort to build a new fire station in West Columbia. He also fought to get a pension established for volunteer firefighters and was successful. When he wasn’t servicing has Fire Chief, he serviced as a city councilman for two terms from April 1983 to 1987. He truly had a servant’s heart. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Beepo (Lavonia) and Alice; his son, Bubba (James Ray) Fink; his brothers, Alvin Fink (Edna) and George Fink (Ruth); his sisters, Lorine Kilsby (Gilbert), Florine Sims (Milton), and Willie Mae Hawkins (Dick); and his in-laws, Julius and Robbye Lee, Charles and Barbara Eckols, Marcus and Joyce Wilson, and Myrtle Reeves.

He is survived by his daughters, Lugene (Rusty) Sims, Kristen Fink, and Donna Stewart Fink; his stepson, Kenneth Roy (Shannon) Essman; his stepdaughter, Rebecca Essman; and his bonus daughter, Jan Peltier. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Quince (Chad) Bowling, Zach (Savannah) Fink, Kendra Essman, Kenneth Wayne (Kendall) Essman, Brittanie (Jason) Ste Marie, Shellye Nevill, and Brandon Nevill; his great-grandchildren, Marin and Spencer Bowling, Bowen and Raeleigh Fink, Wyatt and Kenzie Hudgens, and Ben and Maddie Nevill; and his sister-in-law, Patsy Hedges.

Serving as pallbearers will be Zach Fink, Bowen Fink, Chad Bowling, Chad Jones, Wade Raasch, Rowdy Lopez, and Tyler Dodds. 

Honorary pallbearers will be the active and retired members of the West Columbia Volunteer Fire Department.

The family would like to thank Tyler Dodds and Macy Wallace, best neighbors ever; Dr. Amy Keffer and Gina Hinman for not only healthcare, but love and support for 38 plus years and Angels Home Health for the care they gave to Dad over the years. 

Rest Easy Dad, PaGene, Chief Fink. We’ve got it from here.

Funeral services for Eugene Gottlieb Fink, of West Columbia, are scheduled for 11am, Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia, Texas. Burial will follow in Columbia Cemetery in West Columbia, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 4pm until 7pm, Friday, July 26, 2024 at West Columbia Volunteer Fire Station, 314 E. Clay St, West Columbia, Texas. 

Following the service, the family would like to welcome everyone back to the Fire Station to eat and visit. We will be having a pot luck meal, so feel free to bring your favorite dish. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Columbia Fire Department in memory of Chief Fink.