SACO —  Long time firefighter Ken Pendleton took his last ride in a fire truck Wednesday.

After 42 years of full-time service, Pendleton celebrated his retirement that day with a barbecue at Saco’s Central Fire Station.

A low key, humble man, he seemed slightly uncomfortable with the fanfare and the attention he received from the large number of people — area firefighters, retired firefighters, family and staff from other city departments — who came to say goodbye and wish him well.

“He’s quiet, but he’s committed. He’s very reliable,” said his brother, Saco Deputy Fire Chief David Pendleton. “As a senior person on whatever crew he worked on, he always set a good example.”

Though he was employed full-time with the fire department as a firefighter and EMT for 42 years, with some of that time as lieutenant, Pendleton’s service can be traced further back, 46 years ago, when he was 16 years-old and became a junior firefighter at the Camp Ellis station.

He said he worked for five fire chiefs, six, if you count his years as a junior firefighter.

“I enjoy helping people out in their time of need,” he said.

Ken Pendleton said he’s also enjoyed working for the City of Saco.

 “It’s been good. They’ve treated me well,” he said.

Old Orchard Beach Deputy Fire Chief Ed Dube, who spent many years working in the Saco Fire Department and, like David and Ken Pendleton, grew up in Camp Ellis, said Ken Pendleton babysat him when he was young.

“He was very well liked. He was very responsible, all the parents loved him,” he said.

David and Ken Pendleton are not the only members of their family who grew up to be firefighters. Their father was a fire chief in Saco and Ken Pendleton’s son, Shawn, is a call division firefighter and was scheduled to drive his father home to Biddeford in a fire truck after the celebration.

 “It’s all in their blood,” said Ken’s wife Denise, who works for the city as the tax collector. She said her husband was a very honest person and a good worker.

“He’s not a loafer. He doesn’t like to sit still,” she said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].