Dewey Joseph Guida Jr.
May 3, 1944 ~ May 14, 2024
Dewey Joseph Guida, Jr., a businessman and restaurateur of Weirton, WV, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old.
Born on May 3, 1944, in Steubenville, Ohio, Dewey was the youngest of four children born to Rose Marie (Baio) and Dewey Joseph Guida, Sr.
Dewey graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central High School in 1962. After graduation, Dewey furthered his education at Ohio University and West Liberty State College. With hard work and a belief in God and family, Dewey began his American Dream. From 1965 to 1968, Dewey worked at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. In 1968, he went to work with his brother, J.J., selling real estate.
On November 7, 1970, he married the love of his life, Karen Ruth (Luscher) Guida, and the couple moved to Weirton, where they raised their family.
Dewey’s career spanned more than 50 years, during which he made significant contributions to the Weirton community through his work in the building and restaurant industries.
In 1970, Dewey built homes for the Panhandle Realty Company. In 1974, he and his brother, J.J., founded D&J Development, Inc., a building and development company. Together, they built residential homes in Golden Key Acres, Kingsview Estates, Bel Air Addition, Valley Way, Bell Boulevard, and Terrace Heights. They later expanded their business to include multi-family apartments, building more than 72 apartments in Weirton, including Alpine Village and Fox Hollow. Their ventures also included several commercial and office buildings and converting a formerly closed restaurant into Happy’s Restaurant on Main Street. Several months later, they transformed a car wash into Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs, marking the beginning of Dewey’s second career in the restaurant industry.
Dewey operated Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs from 1980, initially located on Pennsylvania Avenue, until 2004 when he built his new 210-seat restaurant on Three Springs Drive. Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs was not just a restaurant, but a culinary institution, recognized as one of the top 50 BBQ restaurants in the country by the Food Network, and the top spot in West Virginia. Over his 38-year restaurant career, Dewey’s success was evident in the diverse clientele he attracted, including numerous athletes from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, movie stars, entertainers, and political figures, including a former U.S. president, U.S. senators, congressmen, governors, local politicians, and most importantly, his family, friends and the millions of people who loved his ribs.
In addition to his success in the restaurant industry, Dewey was also actively involved in property development, contributing to the construction of Eat ‘n Park and MedExpress, among other projects. He served on numerous local, state, and national boards, including the West Virginia Council of Community and Economic Development, Business Development Corporation, West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, Ruby Memorial Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House, City of Weirton Planning Commission, Weir -Pac, Upper Ohio Valley Homebuilders Association, and the National Restaurant Association. He was also a member of Saint Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, Weirton Chamber of Commerce, Weirton United Way, and West Virginia Make-A-Wish.
In 2003, Governor Bob Wise honored Dewey with the Distinguished West Virginian award. He was also inducted into the Weirton Hall of Fame Class in 2018 and was named the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival Italian American of the Year in 2021. Dewey enjoyed lending a hand through his generosity to many worthwhile causes, including Make-A-Wish, United Way, March of Dimes, local high school sports and numerous charity golf outings.
In addition to his parents, Dewey was preceded in death by his brothers, James Joseph “J.J.” Guida and his wife Rita and Anthony J. “Tony” Guida, Sr.; his sister, Constance Griffo, and her husband, Peter “Kang” Griffo; his mother and father-in-law, Betty and Barney Luscher; his sister-in-law, Janet Kirlangitis; and his nieces Jamie Ann Guida and Rosalie Griffo.
Dewey’s love and devotion to his family will always be remembered by his beloved wife of 53 years, Karen, and their four children: Dewey III (Jaime), Joseph, Kara (Clint) Ferringer, and Michael V. (Lynsay); and his five cherished grandchildren: Vinny, Dewey IV, and Aaralyn Guida, and Caden and Camren Ferringer. He will also be missed by his brothers-in-law, John Luscher (Beverly) and John Kirlangitis, sister-in-law, Shirley Guida, and many nephews and nieces.
Dewey adored his family and found great joy in spending time with them. He was a loving husband, an incredible father who was always there for his children, and an amazing grandfather who loved watching his grandchildren grow. He was a constant pillar of strength and rock for his family, always offering the best advice and wisdom in a steady, calm voice.
Dewey will be remembered for his passion for life and love of people. He had a way of brightening up any room he entered and a presence that commanded attention wherever he went. He was a class act who made everyone feel special with his warmth and upbeat personality. His infectious laugh and warm smile instantly drew people in, and everyone knew they were destined to become lifelong friends with Dewey.
Dewey’s life was a testament to kindness, selflessness, and generosity. He approached every day with a genuine desire to make a positive impact on his family and others around him, and this was evident in everything he did. Always ready to lend a helping hand, he touched the lives of many.
Dewey’s memory will forever be treasured by his family and friends, who will continue to be inspired by his fun-loving attitude, remarkable spirit, larger-than-life personality, and dedication to making the world a better place. His contributions to the Tri-State Area and significant achievements in the restaurant and building industries will leave a lasting impact for many years.
