Former Bath Township Fire Chief Larry Hershey Dies at 96

A charter member who led the department for nearly three decades. Larry Hershey, who served as Bath Township fire chief for 28 years and was a charter member of the Bath Township Fire Department, passed away March 25, 2026, in Bonita Springs, Florida. He was 96. His passing comes two years to the day after the death of his wife, Joyce Hershey, who died March 25, 2024. Bath Township Fire and Rescue shared the news on social media with the words, "RIP Chief." A Life Rooted in Bath Township Larry was born May 1, 1929, in Akron, Ohio, to Lloyd and Dorothy (Young) Hershey. He grew up on Ira Road and attended Bath School, where he would eventually meet the girl who lived two doors down — his future wife, Joyce Helm. His connection to service started early. Larry Hershey was a charter member of Bath Fire Department, and in 1964 replaced Tom Paulett as fire chief. He held that position for 28 years, retiring in 1992. After retirement, he continued serving the department as a part-time member until around 2018. A Love Story That Lasted Decades Joyce Helm was born Dec. 8, 1931, in Canton, Ohio. She and Larry grew up just two doors apart on Ira Road and both attended Bath School. They became friends in elementary school and began dating in high school. Larry played football; Joyce was a majorette. The two married young — Joyce was 17, Larry was 19. Because Joyce was still in high school, they eloped to Kentucky. Their life together spanned more than seven decades. Joyce was also a fixture at the fire department, serving as a member of the ladies' auxiliary throughout Larry's career and was widely known as the "hot dog and pie lady of the horse show." Service, Community, and Family Beyond firefighting, Larry was known as a skilled handyman who was always working on vehicles, tractors, and whatever he could get his hands on. The couple shared a love of Lake Erie and spent time in Florida during their later years. Larry and Joyce were preceded in death by their parents, their sons Bruce Hershey and John Hershey, and their daughters Brenda Hershey and Sandy Douglas. They are survived by their daughter Bonnie Hershey, 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Services The family invites the community to join them on May 1, 2026, at Rose Hill Funeral Home for calling hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A funeral service and last alarm are set to begin at 12:30 p.m. A procession escorted by Bath Fire and Police departments will follow to Bath Center Cemetery, with honors performed by the Honor Guard. Photo credit: Bath Township Fire and Rescue Facebook page. Want your business featured on NEOhio.news? Email julie@spidercatmarketing.com