George Fetrow lived for two things: his wife, Jean, and his only child, Tonya, whom he called "Toots."

After he lost both — his wife to a lengthy illness in 2000, his daughter allegedly to an enraged boyfriend this month — his heart just gave out, family and friends say.

"I say he died of a broken heart," says Fetrow's sister-in-law, Christine Fela. "We all knew how much he loved Jeanie and Toots. He just loved them so much. He wanted to be with them."

And so it is.

The 70-year-old Armstrong retiree was found dead in his favorite recliner and bathrobe Sunday, exactly 14 days after his life was shattered by news that his 28-year-old daughter was brutally beaten and strangled three blocks from the Cabbage Hill home they shared.

The Lancaster County coroner, Dr. Stephen G. Diamantoni, said Fetrow, of the 800 block of Rolridge Avenue, died of natural causes. He had coronary artery disease.

"I just think when he lost Tonya, that just broke his heart, I think," said Dick Clinton, Fetrow's best friend. "He loved that girl. I don't know what else to say."

In an interview with the New Era at his home two weeks ago, Fetrow showed a reporter around his home, pointing out pictures of himself with his family.

"They took my wife eight years ago," Fetrow said at the time. "Now they took my daughter."

Tonya Fetrow was found dead in a driveway north of Columbia on Nov. 9 after witnesses said they saw her boyfriend beat and choke her near Fairview Avenue and St. Joseph Street in Lancaster City. Fetrow's boyfriend of two years, with whom she had tried to break up, has been charged with criminal homicide for her death.

After his daughter's killing, George Fetrow's friends and family tried to pull him through the tragedy. On Saturday, Clinton had Fetrow to his Millersville home to watch the Penn State game.

"He was laughing and carrying on and having a great time," Clinton said. "It hasn't been easy, though, I can tell you that."

Fetrow talked to Clinton about his daughter's death, and said he wanted to get custody of her 1-year-old daughter, Ava. "That's all that was on his mind right now," Clinton said.

Fetrow had been married to his wife for 25 years when she died of asbestosis on Nov. 28, 2000. She was 51. "When she died, he was just lost — but he still had Tonya to live for," said his sister-in-law.

"When they got married, they were the happiest couple I think I ever saw," said Fela. "They tried to have a baby for quite a while. I think they lost a couple of babies, so Tonya was very, very special to them when she came along. It was just a very loving, connected family."

"When this happened to Tonya, he had nothing to live for anymore," said Fela. "I think he just gave up. He wanted to be with his girls."


Staff writer Tom Murse can be reached at tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021.