Mrs. Norma Jean (Milward) Wolford

Norma Jean Wolford, 90 of rural Abingdon, Illinois, died at 6:26 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Courtyard Estates in Knoxville, Illinois. 

She was born on March 4, 1928 in Galesburg, Illinois, the daughter of Thomas Melvin and Lucile (Rhykerd) Milward.  She married Arthur Tolley Wolford on July 9, 1950 at the Cameron Christian Church in Cameron, Illinois. He preceded her in death on June 1, 2008.  She was also preceded in death by her parents.  

Norma Jean is survived by her two loving sons and their wives, John (and Doris) Wolford of rural Abingdon and Rev. Mark (and Sue) Wolford of rural Bushnell; five grandchildren, Phillip (and Cara) Wolford of Galesburg, Daniel (and Cricket) Wolford of Bettendorf, Iowa, Matthew (and Carrie) Wolford of Iowa City, Iowa, Sarah (and Luke) Flessner of Jewett, Illinois and Dana (and Mike) Coffman of LeClaire, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren, Natalie Flessner, Charlotte Flessner, Levi Wolford, Ethan Coffman, Preston Wolford, Adam Flessner, Evan Coffman and Brayden Wolford; and several nieces and nephews and their families.

She grew up in Cameron where she attended the Cameron Grade School.  She was in Girls 4-H and attended the Cameron Christian Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher and Bible school teacher.  She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1946.  While in high school, she worked at the Intrastate Telephone Office in Galesburg.  She then attended Monmouth College, where she participated in the band and was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.  She graduated in 1950 with a double major in French and Chemistry.  She has lived in the Abingdon area all of her adult married life.  She was a farm wife, homemaker and a substitute school teacher for the Abingdon School District.  She was a member of the Abingdon United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher and an active member of the Faith Circle.  She loved spending time with all of her family.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Abingdon United Methodist Church with her funeral service beginning at 11 a.m.  Rev. Nancy Wilson and Norma Jean's son, Rev. Mark Wolford will officiate.  Burial will be in the Abingdon Cemetery.  Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Abingdon United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

John and Mark and their families would like to extend a special thank you to all of the staff at Courtyard Estates and to those with Hospice Compassus for their loving care of Norma Jean.

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