Marv Allen, known for his deep baritone and wry sense of humor as an on-air host at KVPR, died Thursday, May 22, due to complications from bone cancer. He died eight days before his 81st birthday.

Marvin Allen Moore, whose radio moniker was Marv Allen, hosted several shows on the Valley’s public radio station for 19 years and was still doing broadcasts as the host of NPR’s afternoon “All Things Considered” until he formally retired four days before his death.

His radio career began when he was in his teens, and he worked at a number of Fresno-are radio stations as a radio host, disc jockey, and program director starting in the mid-1960s, including KIRV, KMAK, and KARM.

“Marv was truly one-of-a-kind, and a local broadcasting legend. His voice will be missed by thousands,” said KVPR President and General Manager Joe Moore. “Marv loved radio and loved working at KVPR. We would get so many listener calls and emails telling us how much they loved Marv, his voice and his sense of humor, and his weather forecasts. This is a big shock and a huge loss for the station and our listeners.”

A Longtime Radio Voice in Fresno

After graduating from high school, Mr. Moore attended the William P. Ogden Radio Operational Engineering School in Burbank, earning the FCC first class radio telephone license. His first broadcasting job took him to Yuma, Arizona, where he worked as an announcer and engineer before he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam as a radio communication specialist.

After his military service, Mr. Moore returned to Fresno and took a job at KARM radio.

In addition to his work at KVPR and other radio stations, Mr. Moore ran Studio B Productions, a local recording studio, and was a voiceover artist for a number of clients. He voiced and produced radio and TV commercials and recorded audiobooks. In a world where many radio hosts claim to have the “voice of God,” Mr. Moore could back up his claim — several years ago he recorded the entire New Testament for an audiobook version of the Bible.

When he wasn’t on the radio, Mr. Moore was an avid scuba diver, skydiver, boater, and pilot. He was a licensed flight instructor who built and flew ultra-light aircraft.

He is survived by his spouse, Vickie Pearson-Moore, his son Michael, four grandchildren, his brother and sister-in-law, Edwin and Carol Moore, and four nieces and nephews and their families.