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After more than five decades of service to the city of Wheeling, Karen Grimes certainly left an indelible mark on the many people whose lives she touched.
Grimes, who worked for the city for a total of 54 years before retiring last year, died last week at the age of 74.
The bulk of Grimes’ service to the city was spent at the Wheeling Police Department, where she put in a total of 47 years - most of which was in the position as the administrative assistant to the chief of police. She served under seven different police chiefs and 13 city managers during her tenure.
During the annual public safety ceremony at WesBanco Arena last Thursday, members of the Wheeling police and fire department recognized their best and brightest. Grimes was originally scheduled to be awarded a plaque and be recognized for her many years of service following her retirement. Officials attending the ceremony learned, however, that Grimes had died earlier that day.
"I had just called her the week before to see if she would be able to come to the ceremony to honor her retirement," Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said. "She was in the hospital at the time, but we had a conversation, and she seemed to be doing OK at the time."
But things took a turn for the worst over that past week for Grimes, who had been battling health issues in recent years. In late 2021 she fell ill, and it was eventually discovered that she had bleeding in the brain and blood clots. She spent time in the hospital, received treatment and had surgery.
Grimes was on the road to recovery and returned to work for a while, but her friends indicated that her health never really returned to full strength, and she decided to step down and retire for a job she truly loved.
"She had a wealth of knowledge - the epitome of core values in the police department," said Schwertfeger. "Such a sweet lady. She shall be missed. There’s certainly a void now. I’m grateful to have spent 11 years being a coworker and a friend of hers."
Serving under so many police chiefs made Grimes somewhat of a chief among the chiefs, Schwertfeger said, noting that she helped him return to the Ohio Valley from Virginia when he was first hired into his position.
Some of the senior officers on the force today came on board after Grimes had already spent dozens of years at the department.
"She was always a joy to be around," said Deputy Chief Ken Prager, who has 19 years on the force. "She was always an uplifting person. She always had a smile on her face. Even through some of the gloom and doom of certain days, it would be hard to find a more positive person. She was super kind - a very generous person. If you needed an answer to something, she was someone who could help you. She will very much be missed."
Grimes was first hired into the city’s Water Department in 1968 - the same year Barb Janetski was hired into the Recreation Department and Judy Rice was hired into the Finance Department. Grimes worked a total of seven years in the Water and Planning departments before moving to her longtime home at the Police Department.
"We were a sisterhood at work," an emotional Janetski said Tuesday, noting that that camaraderie expanded to their personal lives for decades. I don’t know what I would have done without having her in my life. Everyone should have a Karen Grimes in their lives. She was a godsend. Everyone just adored her."
Grimes helped not only the chiefs she served but all of the officers. Much of her tenure took place during an era when things were less electronic-based and much more personal, Janetski and Rice explained.
"We gave that personal touch - it was very important to us, and Karen was like a mother hen to all of those officers," Janetski said.
"That department was where she needed to be," Rice added, noting that she loved her job and the people with whom she worked. "I wish she could have retired in good health. She went back - she tried, but it was too hard," Rice said. "She didn’t call me ‘Judy’ - it was always ‘Miss Jude.’ We all share very special memories. We loved her."