Atty. Jeanne Wolford McKelvey

McKELVEY – Attorney Jeanne W., 68, Salix, died June 29, 2015, at Windber Hospice. Born Feb. 10, 1947, in Johnstown, daughter of Dr. Donald R. and Wilma (Miller) Wolford-Murphy. Preceded in death by father and stepson, William McKelvey Jr. Survived by husband of 37 years, William G. McKelvey; son, Colt A.; daughter, Chey Y. McKelvey; stepson, Dr. Robert J. (Sharon) McKelvey; grandchildren, Leanne, Laura, Joshua, John, Joseph and Lydia; brothers, Dr. Gary Wolford and Dr. Larry Wolford; and nieces and nephews, Dax, Dallas, Daniel, Demi, Dylan, Dash, Donald and Lynn Wolford. Member and organist at Trinity PCA Church, Hostetler Road, Richland. In 1965, Jeanne Wolford McKelvey earned the highest honor that Pitt-Johnstown bestows upon its more than 20,500 alumni. The award recognizes individual achievements, leadership in professions, service to community and loyalty to alma mater. Her outstanding advocacy work helped to establish the Windber Research Institute, which is at the cutting edge of scientific research, nationally and internationally. She represented the very finest of Pitt-Johnstown and stood as a shining example of career and professional success in the real world, service to community, and pride in her alma mater. McKelvey was an owner, director, vice president and legal counsel for McKelvey Oil Co. Inc. She also was owner and director of Mountain Top Technologies Inc. Prior to her current positions, McKelvey was a medical technologist and chief technologist at Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital; a chief technologist at Johnstown Regional Blood Center; an allied health training program coordinator and assistant director for public affairs at Pitt-Johnstown; director, owner, secretary and legal counsel for Highland Financial Ltd.; and an instructor for business law at St. Francis College. Actively engaged in her community, McKelvey was secretary of the board of directors, executive committee member, immediate past chairwoman of finance and personnel committee and initiator of the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center for Windber Medical Center; treasurer of the board of directors, incorporator and trustee for Windber Research Institute; vice chairwoman, director and secretary of the board for 1st Summit Bank; and member of the Hiram G. Andrews Center Special Planning Task Force, among myriad other present and past positions. She served as past director for the Pitt-Johnstown Foundation for Campus Ministry, which presented her the Chi Rho Award in 1987. Following an early graduation from Adams Township High School (she skipped her senior year), McKelvey enrolled at Pitt-Johnstown, where she majored in microbiology; she was accepted into Pitt-Oakland’s first class in its School of Medical Technology. She received a master’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. McKelvey later went on to earn her juris doctor degree at the Dickinson School of Law. She was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of Florida and the Western District of the United States Federal Court for the Third Circuit. McKelvey was a member of the Fulton, Cambria and Allegheny County bar associations. In 1984, then-Governor Richard Thornburg appointed her to the Board of Medical Education and Licensure for the commonwealth, where she served for 10 years. Additionally, she studied at St. Andrews University in Scotland and Cambridge University in England. McKelvey is a 17-year survivor of breast cancer, which reached stage four in 2008. A supporter of breast cancer research and awareness, McKelvey was honored as the 2013 recipient of Windber Research Institute’s Taunia Oechslin Community Advocate for Breast Cancer Research Award at the fifth annual Pink Tie Affair to celebrate breast cancer awareness month. A native of Johnstown, McKelvey resided in Salix with her husband, William G. McKelvey, and 21-year old twins, Colt and Chey. During her free time, she enjoyed flying, horse training and riding, golf, sewing, music and skating. She was a private mission-qualified instrument rated pilot and was a commissioned colonel in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP); she was the first woman ever appointed as national controller of the CAP. Friends received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland, and from 9 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity PCA Church, the Rev. Dr. David Karlberg, pastor. Interment, Deer Creek Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Family suggests donations to Trinity PCA Church or Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in memory of Jeanne. Online condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com