Obituary of David Eugene Wolford

David Eugene Wolford

Philadelphia - David E. Wolford, 87, educator and radio host, died at

Cathedral Village on October19, 2023, following a three-year battle with

cancer. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in the heart of Mohican country to

the late Karl and Dorothy Wolford. He is predeceased by his wife of 36 years,

Faith (nee Gottman). He is survived by his sister, Mary McClain and her

husband Ron, his sister-in-law Charlene Gottman, his dear friend Karen

Faulkner, his best friend-in-law Cathy Holliday, and his cat Pogo.

Dave graduated from Johnny Appleseed Junior High School. He was very

active in the Boy Scouts of America and became an Eagle Scout. He went on

to graduate from Mansfield High School where he excelled at speech and

debate. He entered Ohio University and continued his interest in public

speaking which earned him a Bachelors Degree in Broadcast Journalism,

followed by an M.F.A. degree in Speech Communication. While at Ohio

University, Dave was an active member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, was

presented with membership to the Blue Key Honor Society, and was

nighttime DJ on WOUB radio station where his broadcast career was

launched.

He began teaching Speech and English at McArthur High School, Vinton

County, Ohio, after graduating from college. To further his education, Dave

went to Penn State University in State College, PA, where he taught classes

in Communication. While attending and teaching at Penn State, he was a

nighttime DJ at radio station WMAJ.

Dave moved to Philadelphia in 1964 when he was asked to join radio station

WPBS-FM (Philadelphia Bulletin station). He worked as the morning man for 2

years, and afternoon DJ for 5 years. During his tenure at WPBS, Dave

continued his passion for teaching Public Speaking at Penn State Ogontz

campus, and evening classes at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also

a member of Toastmasters Club. After his time at WPBS, he became the

morning man at WBCB in Bucks County.

Dave eased into the emerging field of Management Communication at the

Wharton School of Business. He began teaching all Communication

Management courses. While working at Wharton, Dave attended Temple

University and worked toward a Ph.D. in Organizational Management. He

gave up his broadcast career, and focused entirely on teaching at Wharton

where he stayed for 30 years, retiring as Associate Director of the Wharton

Communication Program.

Following his tenure at Wharton, Dave taught for 5 years at Montgomery

County Community College in Blue Bell, PA, in Management

Communications.

​

Dave’s outside interests included photography, singing, and his

grandfather’s 1937 Oldsmobile which was his life-long hobby. He was active

in the Antique Automobile Club of America and made many friendships with

other members who enjoyed similar interests.

Dave was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Germantown

for 23 years, was a Deacon, and sang in both the church choir and the

Oratorio Choir. After the death of his wife in 2020, Dave moved to Cathedral

Village, and soon became a member of The Villagers barbershop quartet. He

had a very full and happy life, and until very recently, he was enjoying his

time at Cathedral Village making friends and singing with The Villagers.

Because his wife, Faith, passed during the Covid pandemic, she was not

honored at a proper funeral. Consequently, a joint funeral service for Faith

and Dave will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 10:00 a.m., at the First

Presbyterian Church of Germantown. Interment following the service at

Westminster Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.

Fitzpatrick Funeral Home, Philadelphia, PA 215-483-1702