James H. Fahey Jr.

Once “Jimmy” in his youth, he was known as “Jim” to many, “Dad” to his four children, and “Papa” to his grandchildren. Though he lived in Waynesburg for most of his adult life, he was born in Moundsville, WV on October 19, 1943 to James H. Fahey. Sr. and Sophia Klonsick Fahey. When he was 9 years old, his family moved to Waynesburg where they opened the Econ-O-Wash laundromat, a family business of which he remained especially proud.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Waynesburg College before serving his country in the United States Army. During three terms of service, he acted as a Communications Officer and was deployed to Saigon during the Vietnam War.

In August 1973, Jim married Nancy Genovese Fahey, and they moved to Mullens, WV where he was a high school teacher of history and driver’s education. They lived there for 10 years, starting their family. An active family man, every night after dinner, Jim would walk his kids to feed the ducks or visit the playground.

Jim was the longtime proprietor of the Econ-O-Wash Laundromat. Having worked with his parents there as a young man, he returned to Waynesburg in 1984 with a desire to return home and help his mother with the family business. After her death in 1999, he continued running “the mine,” as he affectionately called it, for another 25 years until health issues forced it to close in 2024.

Jim spent decades teaching in the public schools, where many local residents came to know him as “Mr. Fahey.” Through his work at the laundromat, teaching, and countless hours volunteering, James became a familiar and well-loved member of the community. He was proud of his decades long commitment to volunteering with the Lions Club and loved selling Christmas trees and decorating his own.

At home, he was Dad.

Jim loved watching tv and old movies—and generally had little use for new ones. Among his favorites were old serials, westerns, and the alien and monster movies of the 1950s. Jim could tell you the most obscure details about character actors and was a fountain of knowledge of the history of old movies. He loved going to the movies and spent many happy days taking his kids to every movie that came to town.

He also loved history, Pittsburgh and West Virginia University sports, Dean Koontz novels, good meals, trips to the Skyview Drive-In, telling stories to friends, and jokes that were often memorable precisely because they were so bad. One of his favorites was told each time Mom made Chicken Cacciatore and involved the American Revolution, a chicken coop, and a very startled Tori soldier. “Did I ever tell you the story of Chicken Catch-a-Tori?” Dad could be known to send himself into a fit of laughter with the corniest of jokes. Generations of family members also heard his reminder, “You make a better door than you do a window.”

Jim was also an animal lover and had many beloved pets over the years. Much to Nancy’s chagrin, he’d often bring home strays that would become beloved family pets. His most favorite was a dog named Rexine that he picked up while in the Service in Vietnam. Rexine was his dearest companion, and he swore the smartest dog he’d ever known.

He was a devoted father who gave his children the gift of growing up in a peaceful town surrounded by family and community. When his son James was only three years old, Dad was already pitching Wiffle balls to him to teach him baseball. Years later, he was still on the mound, pitching for neighborhood baseball games.

And then there were the dentures.

James had a lifelong habit of clicking his dentures around in his mouth, a sound so familiar that it became part of the soundtrack of family life. Nancy and James III would joke that he even “chewed” his drinks. It was one of countless little peculiarities that made him unmistakably himself—and which his family will undoubtedly miss hearing more than they ever expected.

Above all, James loved his family and his community, and that affection was returned. He will be remembered as a kind man, a funny man, a storyteller, a teacher, a veteran, a husband and father, and someone whose presence became woven into the life of the town he called home.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Sophia K. and James H Fahey Sr., and his brother Robert Fahey.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy G. Fahey, his children, Catherine W. Fahey-Hunt (Brad) of Cleveland, OH, Ellen M. “Goofy” Fahey of La Jolla, CA, James H. Fahey III of Hollywood, CA, and John R. J. Fahey (Lauren) of Claysville, PA, and his dear grandchildren, Daisy, Cylas, Wylie, and Jonathan. He is also survived by two brothers, Patrick Fahey of Waynesburg and Thomas Fahey of Polk, PA and much extended family, including his favorite nieces, Jen Loubon of Portland, Oregon and Michelle Perry of Plant City, Florida, daughters of Bob and Elvira Fahey.

Visitation will be held Monday, September 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Behm Funeral Home in Waynesburg. A funeral service will be held at noon. A reception will follow. A private burial at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies will take place at a later date.

Flowers are appreciated. The family also welcomes donations in James’s memory to The Humane Society.