Corporate leader served community

4/30/2005

HURON, Ohio - Wendell F. Fryer, Jr., 71, a former president and CEO of Centrex Corp., a plastic products company in Findlay, died of complications from lung cancer Wednesday in his home here.

Mr. Fryer, a past board chairman of the Community Improvement Corp. in Findlay, began his career in sales and worked as a plant manager or executive officer at companies in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan. He retired from the Findlay plastics company in 1997.

Born in Sabina, Ohio, Mr. Fryer graduated from Athens High School in 1952. He attended Ohio University for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. In 1958, he returned to the university, where he majored in business administration and received his bachelor's degree in 1960.

A past member of Ohio University's College of Business advisory board and chairman of the Owens Community College board, Mr. Fryer was "very involved and interested in community development," daughter Lori Fox said.

A member of Huron United Methodist Church, he enjoyed singing in the church choir, said his daughter. She said he joined more volunteer organizations when he retired. "He wasn't content to just sit back and complain. He wanted to be involved in shaping the issues that influence the community he lived in," Ms. Fox said.

Mr. Fryer was a past board member of Junior Achievement of Findlay and a past board chairman of the Ohio Manufacturers Association.

Surviving are his wife, the former Nancy Householder, whom he married April 10, 1955; daughters, Lynn Sauceda and Lori Fox; sons, Douglas, Mark, and Scott; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Foster Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in Huron United Methodist Church. The family suggests tributes to Stein Hospice Service or the church.