Remembering Charly Butcher
• Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of beloved Ft. Wayne, IN broadcaster Charly Butcher, a fixture on Federated Media’s WOWO and WMEE for over three decades, who died Wednesday, August 15 at the age of 61, reportedly due to a cardiac event.
A posting on WOWO.com reads, in part, “Charly was the loving husband of elementary school teacher, Sarah Butcher, and the father of three wonderful kids. There are no words to express what this loss means to his family, friends, his co-workers, and the WOWO listeners. To say we are heart-broken would be an under-statement. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of his family during this challenging time. We will continue to provide updates at the appropriate times and appreciate your understanding as we too continue to grasp the gravity of this news.”
Congressman Jim Banks, a frequent guest on Butcher’s program, was among those paying respects, as he said, “Charly Butcher was a broadcasting icon and a beloved northeast Indiana legend. I am heartbroken about his passing, and I will forever cherish the moments I spent with Charly, both on and off air. Our entire region mourns his loss, but his irreplaceable voice and legacy will live on for generations to come. I offer my deepest condolences to Charly’s wife Sarah, his three children, his extended family and his colleagues at WOWO.”
There is more coverage of Butcher’s passing on Blaine Thompson‘s Indiana RadioWatch and on the home page of the local ABC affiliate WPTA (ABC21). Butcher’s Fort Wayne Morning News on WOWO was simulcast on WPTA’s sister station, MyTV Fort Wayne.
