Wells Fay was my husband’s grandfather.

Birth

Born January 5, 1904, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, Wells was the second child of Frank and Marie Fay.

Marriage

Wells married Katharine Harris on September 11, 1929. The couple had planned to go to Bermuda for their honeymoon but Frank surprised them with a trip to Europe.

Military Service

About 1933–35 Wells joined the U.S. Army Reserve Unit Cavalry in Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh, PA. He claimed it was the cheapest way he could ride horses on weekends — a sport he and his father had enjoyed in Greenville. He and a partner had their own law practice, but as a condition of the Reserves, Wells had to go to military camp for two weeks every summer.

In March 1939 as the U.S. began to gear up for war with Germany he was called into the regular Army. Inducted as a 1st Lieutenant at Indian Town Gap he was sent to the War College in Carlisle, PA, for instruction and promoted to Captain.

In May as he was sent to Leesville, Louisiana. Camp Polk as company commander in the 6th Armored Division.

Jan 1941 went to Ft. Knox, Kentucky, for a few months then to Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

Sept. 1941 sent to Banning, California, for desert training, 3rd Army under George Patton.

Nov. 1941 went to the Command and General Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Returned briefly to the desert, was promoted to Major.

July 1942 Santa Barbara, Calif. For training in amphibious tanks LST’s.

Promoted to Lt. Col. Sent to Monterey, Calif. Ft. Ord. The family lived on base for a year then moved to Carmel. In October 1945 Wells was discharged from the regular service and the family moved back to Pittsburgh.

Death

His obituary from the Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, January 17, 1965:

Lawyer’s Services Monday

Wells Fay, 61, Retired in May From Firm Here

GREENVILLE, Jan. 16–Services for Wells Fay, retired senior member of the Pittsburgh law firm of Blaxter, O’Neill, Houston & Nash, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the John R. Loutzenhiser Funeral Home, 340 Main St., Greenville.

Mr. Fay, 61, formerly of Pittsburgh, died yesterday in Greenville Hospital.

With the firm for 19 years, Mr. Fay moved back to Greenville, where he was born, after his retirement in May.

He received his bachelor’s degree at Harvard and law degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Law School in 1928.

He was an honorary member of the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Club of Pittsburgh and also a member of the Duquesne Club and Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Assns.

He was a lieutenant colonel with the Army in World War II.

Mr. Fay was past president of the Travelers Aid division of the Red Cross.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville.

Surviving are his widow, Katherine Harris Fay; five sons, John W., of Chicago, James H, of New York City, Michael, of Buenos Aires, Frank W. Jr., of Pittsburgh, and William L., of Greenville; one daughter, Mrs. Eleanor Furst, of Hollidaysburg; two sisters, Miss Helen Fay, of Greenville, and Mrs. Florence Beer, of New York City; one brother James P., of Greenville; and five grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Burial will be in Shenango Valley Cemetery, Greenville.