Beloved retired Front Royal police officer dies

A service for retired FRPD officer Greg Settle will be held on Monday, Feb. 6.

A beloved local musician and retired Town of Front Royal police officer died on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Gregory Allen “Greg” Settle was born in Warren County on October 30, 1958.  He was 58 years old.

He worked in sales and other endeavors before making his way into law enforcement. He served the Front Royal Police Force honorably for 22 years until his retirement in May 2009.

Photos/Roger Bianchini

Settle was an officer who was well-liked by both his coworkers and the public; there has been an outpouring of expressions of sympathy at the news of his death, particularly on social media.

The Front Royal Police Department posted a statement on its Facebook page that said, “With our hearts heavy, the Front Royal Police

Department wishes to express its condolences to the family and friends of retired police
officer, Greg Settle, whom we lost. Officer Settle gave 22 years of service to the citizens of Front Royal as a law enforcement officer. His memory will not only linger among his police family he worked with, but also to those that he had an impact upon, in their lives.

Becky Weagle, Joe and David Jenkins play for a brother

His heart was always big in giving to others; but larger to his GOD, whom he devoted his life to. RIP Brother Officer.”

Greg is survived by his wife, Christina Cooley Settle, his parents, Wilton and Louemma Settle, his son, Taylor Ballard Settle and fiancée Harmony Sterns; his step-grandson, Caius; and recent 10-month-old granddaughter, Charlotte, who had a special place in Greg’s heart. He also leaves behind his stepdaughter, Lacey Fox. He is survived by his oldest brother, Rick and wife Elaine of Stephens City, and his only sister, Connie Wayland and husband Gary and his youngest brother, Jeff and his wife Paige, all of Front Royal.

Greg loved music and sang and played guitar in a number of bands from his teenage years until his death.  He had musician friends across the Shenandoah Valley and played lead guitar in several bands, including The Top Cops, Rooster and the gospel bluegrass band, The Shenandoah Baptist Boys, for over seven years.

There was an overwhelmingly attended Celebration of Life service Monday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. in the North Warren Fire Hall in Cedarville, Va. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in Greg’s honor may be made to the Independence Fund, which provides track wheelchairs for severely wounded veterans. For information, call: 888-851-7996 or independencefund.org.