by Kathy Tretter
Tears flowed freely – some of sadness, some of joy – during a special ceremony dedicating Spencer County’s latest addition to the ambulance fleet to Dr. Ted Troyer, long-serving Spencer County Emergency Management Medical Director.
Dr. Troyer started with the Spencer County Ambulance Service in 1988, continuing in this role until his health failed. He passed away on October 26, 2021.
The dedication ceremony was held at St. Meinrad’s Fire Station, which was filled with those who loved him (his family), those who worked with him and loved him (emergency personnel, fire fighters, dispatchers, etc.) friends who wanted to honor him and elected officials who greatly appreciated what he did for Spencer County.
Almost without fail, every speaker who worked under him said Dr. Troyer was hard on them at first. “And we needed it,” noted Bob Duley, president of the Ambulance Service. Duley said in the beginning it was very basic, but under Dr. Troyer’s tutelage the program went from Basic EMS to EMTs to Advanced EMTs and on to Paramedics.
Also almost without fail, every speaker mentioned his dedication to his family. EMS Director Jane Stout thanked his family for sharing him. “He did a lot for the ambulance service and for this county,” she explained. “He was a family man, his daughters were always a priority.”
Four of his five daughters were present, as was his wife, Dr. Brenda Troyer, and several grandchildren, two of whom, while very young, spent the bulk of the ceremony crying softly for their grandpa whom they miss, holding on to each other as they sobbed.
Dr. Troyer got involved with the ambulance service because his wife, Dr. Brenda Troyer grew up in Grandview and he wanted to give back to Spencer County in a way that would impact the future. Because there is no hospital he wanted to create a hospital on wheels, making it even more appropriate to dedicate the ambulance – a 2023 Chevy G-4500 – in his honor.
Read more on this story in this week’s issue of the Spencer County Leader!
Featured Image: Members of the Troyer Family pose with the ambulance that was dedicated in honor of Dr. Ted Troyer
A memorial for Dr. Ted Troyer was set up at the dedication ceremony featuring photos of Troyer and two cakes bearing photos of the ambulance that was dedicated in his honor
The 2023 Chevy G-4500 ambulance was unveiled at the ceremony adorned with an “In Memory of” decal, and a wooden memorial flag placed on the back bumper for the ceremony
Members of the Troyer Family displayed their emotions as the dedication is unveiled
Speakers at the ceremony shared their memories of working for Dr. Troyer, as well as giving their condolences to the Troyer Family
A great number of those who knew Dr. Ted Troyer, and his loved ones, attended the dedication ceremony
Dr. Troyer’s grandchildren got the honor of unveiling the “Pawpaw’s Truck” decal in honor of their grandfather, and were the first ones to tour the interior of their grandfather’s ambulance
