"We are truly sorry to hear of Michelle's passing. It was interesting to read of her passion for her work. Her talent, accomplishments, and contributions she left behind will surely have a lasting impact. We are very proud of our fellow Waterloo Viking. Our condolences to the entire Wolford family. Mark and Mary Ann Twark Chesapeake, Virginia"
In loving memory of
Michelle Wolford
July 31, 2016
Michelle Wolford, a journalist who moved her North Central West Virginia community through philanthropic activism and popular columns that revealed her love of music, family and friends, died Friday, July 31. She was 57.Michelle was born in Ravenna, Ohio, the ninth of nine children. She is survived by her sisters Mary Schettler and Sharon (Jerry) Joseph and her brothers Charlie, Tom, Damien and Paul (Jill). She is preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Nellie (Hunter) Wolford, and her sisters Sarah Virginia "Sally" (Bud) Allen and Geraldine Wolford.After graduating from Atwater Waterloo High School in 1975, Michelle attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, and earned a degree in journalism. She stayed in Morgantown for a decade, booking musicians at the Underground Railroad, drawing such bands as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Flag, and organizing a dry bar next door where she became a second mom for local youths.In the early '90s she moved to San Francisco and worked as a booking manager and copy writer for another decade. By 2000, she was ready to move closer to home, and she soon put her journalism degree to use. The Dominion Post hired Michelle, and she worked for the newspaper until her recent illness. She was a copy editor and an entertainment reporter, but she became best known as a general-interest columnist, whose "Wolford's Window" writings ranged from humorous takes on pop culture to deeply personal reflections on growing up in rural Ohio.Reporting and living in Preston County, the small community embraced her as their own. Michelle was Rotary Club president for the past two years and traveled to Togo to volunteer with polio eradication and development efforts. She volunteered feeding people during the holidays and helped to start a food drive for hungry schoolchildren called Pack the Bus. The next drive is Aug. 9 (for information, contact Food for Preston at 304-379-3519).After a brief illness, Michelle died Friday morning, July 31, 2015 at Heartland of Preston, where she felt comfortable and at home with their incomparable staff.The Wolford family would like to thank The Dominion Post, and Michelle's friends, readers, caregivers and Preston County residents who adopted our beloved little sister. Your outpouring of support was important to her and to us and will never be forgotten. We always teased her with "why do you want to live out there in the middle of nowhere?" Now we know. Thank you for providing her with such a wonderful home.To the devoted friends who never left her side, thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. Michelle's wishes for cremation are being honored by her family and friends. A gathering to celebrate her life and legacy will be held at the Preston Community Arts Center, 123 S. Price St., Kingwood on Saturday, August 8th. A brief memorial service will be held at 1 PM, immediately followed by visitation with the family to share memories until 3 PM.In Michelle's memory, please send contributions to Food for Preston, Pack the Bus, PO Box 1175 Kingwood, WV 26537.Michelle's professional services have been entrusted to Smith Funeral & Cremation Care, 108 Holland Ave., MorgantownCondolences for the family may be left at www.smithfuneralandcremationcare.com
Tributes
"Michelle's hard work to get a bond levy passed in Preston County will always be remembered and appreciated by the Preston County Board of Education. We always enjoyed her presence at our meetings and in our community events. Kathy McNeill, Preston County Board of Education"
"As a regular reader of Michelle's columns, fellow Rotarian, and fellow alumna of the P. I. Reed School of Journalism, my deepest condolences on the loss of Michelle. She contributed much through her honesty, insights, energy and compassion, which she generously shared through her work in this area and beyond. I am saddened by her passing but grateful for her life."
"Still searching for Marsha! We miss you already.."
"I knew Michelle from The Underground Railroad, Maxwell's, and mutual friends while I was attending WVU in the 80's. She was always grounded, straightforward, and smart. I admired her a lot. I'm sad to know of her passing."
"My wife and I enjoyed Michelle's columns in the newspaper. She had a gift for storytelling in a way that anyone could relate. We will miss her, and the Sunday paper won't be the same without her."
"The only thing that outweighed your charm and wit was the difference you made in this community, this world and the lives of each and every one of us that were lucky enough to call you friend. We love you and will always miss you, but we'll all try a little harder because of you."
"I'll miss your wit, humor and droll deliveries. I'll miss your reporting and the nitches you taught me. Most of all, I'll miss your presence.Huggs."
"Michelle was one of a kind. A quick with, at times, a sharp tongue and always a big heart. I had lost touch with her by the mid-1980s and am not surprised to see how she evolved with her leadership skills, business acumen, outreach to others and continued writing. She was always an exceptional writer. My condolences to family and all close to her. Prayers and good thoughts to you Michelle."
"Michelle was one of the best people I have ever known..we didn't talk much these last few years but she was always in my thoughts...we have the same birthday only I was 10yrs younger..I think that is one of the reasons we were drawn to each other..she helped me tremendously when I was at my life's bottom in San Francisco and for that I am truly grateful...this past couple of days I have seen a great many butterflies and I know she is still with me...love you always Michelle..and my condolences to your family"
"I am sorry to see someone so beloved and such an inspiration pass on... so young....aaaaaaa"
"You will be greatly missed."
"I met Michelle when she interviewed me for a video I made that won a $5,000 grant for the Rowlesburg School. I had so much fun at that interview, and we became Facebook friends because she said she would like to know what other things I was up to. I made her a promise -- that if I ever won a car from entering sweepstakes that I would allow her to interview me. Sadly to say, I still haven't won a car, because I would have loved to have been interviewed by her again. During Hurricane Sandy, we had a ton of snow in our driveway and a utility line down. I had kept calling the electric company to try and find out if it was a live electric line. Even though my mother was on dialysis and needed to get out to live, I was told they wouldn't help. I started posting on Facebook asking if anyone knew what we could do. In a few minutes, I received a private message from her saying she had contacted the power company and thy would be there to check the line in the next ten minutes. It wasn't a live electric line as we thought, so we were able to get out of the house and get my mother to dialysis. I will forever be grateful to her for her help at that time. As important as dialysis is, she could have saved my mother's life. My mother has since passed away, but I will never forget the relief and happiness I had when the message came in from her that she had contacted the power company on our behalf, and they were going to check the line!"
"My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Michelle. Michelle will be missed by so many people. I knew her as my daughter Alice's and son Dan's friend starting in Morgantown during their time at WVU, when Michelle claimed being our third child. She will be fondly remembered."
"Dear Sharon, Jerry, Mary, Tom, Charlie, Paul, & Damien< I share your loss. Michelle was a force of nature, someone who could take an idea to completion and bring others along with her. I am glad to have been part of her life for a while. The obituary was a great tribute to someone who always loved her family and reveled in being an aunt."
"Michelle and I attended journalism school together at WVU. Her gift of writing was so clear even then that I knew she would go on to writing the human interest stories she and I both were drawn to, but that she had the talent to tell. Michelle and I travelled together on our first trip to NYC and I still remember how shocked she was at the ability of others to step over and avoid the homeless. She wanted right then right now to help them. I stayed on there and she went back to Morgantown creating a community there that was a marvel to see. I visited Camp Splinter once and loved the family. So very lucky to know Michelle. I treasure our time together and wish I had seen her in recent years. Godspeed and much love Wendy"
"I did not know Michelle personally,but I read her column regularly. She made me laugh, and sometimes she made me cry. She will be missed. Condolences to her family and friends."
"Thoughts and prayers for a wonderful family"
"Michelle was a good neighbor and we will all miss her here in Kingwood."