John W. Fay was born May 27, 1918 in Holt to John B. Fay and Ruth L. Parman. His father is the longest serving Supervisor of Delhi Township, holding the post for 33 years. The Fays are descendants of pioneering Holt families including the Mengers and Delhi’s first clerk Caleb Thompson.

John married Betty Anita Draheim on October 22, 1939, and had three children Gary, Greg, and Steven. Betty was born June 19, 1919 in Lansing to Ernest Draheim and Elizabeth Harrington. John and Betty met at Holt High School, where they graduated with the Class of 1936 and 1937, respectively. John went on to attend Cleary Business College in 1937-1938.

John served in World War II for 30 months with the 5th Army, 212 Signal Depot Company in Africa and Italy.

While in high school, on June 6, 1936, Alan Albert hired an 18 year old John to work a couple hours to help him delivery groceries from his story Albert Grocery. John continued employment with Albert’s except for his year in college and during his service in the Army.

Holt’s Food Center on Cedar Street. Courtesy of the Fay Family.

On April 16, 1946, Fay and partner Leonard Potter bought out Alan Albert in the grocery store operation. They rebranded the business as Holt’s Food Center. The business operated in the old I.O.O.F. building at the southwest corner of Holt Road and Cedar Street, until 1953 when they moved around the corner into a new building on Cedar Street. In November 1966, John Fay bought out Leonard Potter and became the sole proprietor of Holt’s Food Center. It is belived that Fay closed the store around 1976.

Fay also worked for fifteen years as the building supervisor of McDonel Hall at Michigan State University

A lifetime member of the Holt United Methodist Church, John was a trustee of the church for a period. John and Betty donated a stained glass window to the church, which is now in the chapel.

In 1975-1976, John was the president of the Kiwanis Club of Holt. He was also a chairman of the Holt Community Christmas Fund. John also served as a member of the Board of Directors of American Bank and Trust of Holt.

Betty Fay went to college later in life after raising their children. She received an education degree from Michigan State University and taught elementary school reading for 20 years at Sycamore Elementary in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She introduced the RIF (Reading is Fundamental) program to Holt Schools. Even after retirement, Betty substitute taught in Holt for years.

John W. Fay died January 29, 1989, at age 70. Betty died April 24, 2014, at age 94. They are buried in Maple Ridge Cemetery.

The Holt-Delhi Historical Society holds the Fay Family Collection, which includes a scrapbook of materials belonging to John B. Fay, and material relating to his ancestors, and children John W. Fay and Betty Fay.