Fred A. Grewe, Jr.

GREWE, Fred A. Jr. of McCready Avenue, Wheeling, died Saturday, June 23, 2001, at home. He was 71.

He graduated from Wheeling Central Catholic High School and attended the College of Marietta and the University of Virginia. He was also a veteran of the United States Marine Corp.

He began his career in radio in 1951 as an announcer, disc jocky and copywriter in Charlottesville, Va. He then began his association with WHLL, first as an announcer and disc jocky, then as a sales manager and in 1956, he became the general manager of WHLL until 1961. In 1961, he purchased his first radio station, WEIF in Moundsville, followed by WXLW in Indianapolis, Ind., WPAR in Parkersburg, W.Va., WGOE in Richmond, Va., WQTW in Latrobe, Pa. and WSTL in Emminence, Ky. In 1975, he started Grewe Advertising, Inc., an advertising company serving West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania businesses. He clients included financial institutions, industrial accounts, building and contracting businesses, restaurants, retail sales outlets, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, political candidates, and many other types of businesses. In 1990, he began an association with WBBD Radio and was a consultant with the former Reichart Furniture Store in Wheeling. In 1994, he began a syndicated radio show named ”The Way It Used to Be” which he hosted as ”Fred Fable.” ”The Way It Used to Be” was broadcasted on 10 different radio stations throughout the U.S. until his death.

He was the past president of Jaycees, and was named the Outstanding Jaycee in West Virginia in 1965. He as past president of the Optimist Club, the former President of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the American Legion Post No. 1, the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 504, the B.P.O.E. Elks No. 28 and a former executive member of the LPGA. He served on the Wheeling City Council from 1963 until 1967 and served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1967 to 1971.

He was also well-known as the voice of the Wheeling Central Catholic High School football team, ”The Voice of the Maroon Knights.”

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley M. Stein Grewe in 1977; his parents, Fred A. Sr. and Edith Stewart Grewe; an infant son, Mark Grewe; a brother Henry ”Hank” Grewe; two sisters, Sally Ann Moore and Janie Faltenberg.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Snyder Marple Grewe; a son, Fred A. Grewe, III of St. Louis, Mo.; three daughters, Elaine Reed of Harrison, Ark., Mrs. Michael L. Gail Winiesdorffer of West Liberty and Mrs. Michael M. Diane Anthony of Wheeling; two step-sons, James Marple of Wheeling and Jeff Marple of Point Mugu, Calif.; two step-daughters, Susan Schrader of Wheeling and Mrs. David ”Gwynn” Repp of Columbus, Ohio; 14 grandchildren; a great-grandchild.

Friends will be received on Monday, June 25, 2001, from 2-8 p.m. at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, 154 Kruger St., Elm Grove, Wheeling, with a vigil service being held at 7 p.m. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Wheeling, with the Rev. H. Joseph Wilhelm S.M. as celebrant. Interment in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.