JAMES “MIKE” MULFORD, 56, GALLIPOLIS, OHIO PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY TUESDAY MAY 20, 2003 AT HIS RESIDENCE. HE WAS BORN JANUARY 4, 1947 AT GALLIPOLIS, SON OF ELIZABETH KNOPP BAILEY OF CHESHIRE AND THE LATE CLARENCE “JAY” MULFORD. HE WAS A VETERAN OF THE VIETNAM WAR SERVING IN THE U.S. ARMY WITH THE SPECIAL FORCES, AMERI CAL DIVISION AS A SCOUT DOG HANDLER, RANGER QUALIFIED. HE MEDICALLY RETIRED FROM THE W.VA. NATIONAL GUARD AS A MAJOR.
MIKE WAS A 1965 GRADUATE OF KYGER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, CHESHIRE. HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR OF LIBERAL ARTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE, 1969 WHERE HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE GRANDE CHORALE. HE RECEIVED HIS TEACHING CREDENTIALS FROM OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS. IN ADDITION HE RECEIVED HIS MASTERS OF LIBRARY AND MEDIA FROM MARSHALL UNIVERSITY IN 1987.
HE WAS EMPLOYED BY THE GALLIA COUNTY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS WHERE HE HAD TAUGHT JR. HIGH SCIENCE AT VINTON ELEMETARY AND KYGER CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL. HE WAS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS LIBRARIAN AT RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.
MIKE’S ATHLETIC INVOLVEMENT INCLUDED; FORMER COACH OF VINTON JR. HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL, ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH AT KYGER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL AND RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. HE ALSO SUPPORTED MANY OTHER ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.
HE WAS MEMBER OF MEIGS COUNTY DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHAPTER # 53, GALLIA COUNTY LOCAL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, OHIO EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. MIKE WAS ALSO AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PT. PLEASANT, W.VA.
IN ADDTION TO HIS MOTHER HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE MARIE GOUR MULFORD WHOM HE MARRIED AUGUST 21, 1983 AT HUNTINGTON, W.VA.
THREE DAUGHTERS
CORISSA MICHELLE (CHRIS) DEMEER, SYRACUSE, OHIO
CHANDA RUSSELL, RACINE, OHIO
ALICIA MULFORD, MASON, W.VA.
FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, ALYSSA & MATTEA DEEMER AND AUBREE & OLIVIA JOHNSON.
ONE BROTHER
F. DENNIS (SUSIE) MULFORD, GEORGETOWN, OHIO
ONE SISTER
KAY (WILLIAM) RUTHERFORD, PT. PLEASANT, W.VA.
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD 11:00 A.M. SATURDAY MAY 24, 2003 IN THE CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PT. PLEASANT WITH THE REV. KATHARIN K. FOSTER OFFICIATING. THE BODY WILL LIE IN STATE ONE HOUR PRIOR TO SERVICE. BURIAL WILL FOLLOW IN THE GRAVEL HILL CEMETERY, CHESHIRE, OHIO. FULL MILITARY GRAVESIDE RITES WILL BE CONDUCTED BY 2/19th SPECIAL FORCES UNIT, HUNTINGTON, WV. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE MCCOY-MOORE FUNERAL HOME, WETHERHOLT CHAPEL, GALLIPOLIS, FRIDAY 4:00-8:00 P.M.
FRIENDS WISHING TO MAKE MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MAY MAKE DONATIONS TO:
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
804 MAIN ST.
PT. PLEASANT, W.VA. 25550 or
Cheshire Baptist Church
8057 State Route 7
Cheshire, OH 45620
