George F. Fordham

Dr. George F. Fordham, a long time resident of Mullens, West Virginia, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2013 at the age of 91 years. He was the son of the late Dr. George and Mary Yodzis Fordham of Powellton and Montgomery, WV. He graduated at age 14 from Montgomery High School, attended the College of Mt. St. Mary’s, Emmitsburg, Md., and received a B.S. degree in Chemistry, cum laude from Georgetown University. This was followed by a year of graduate study in the School of Foreign Service. In 1944, Dr. Fordham received his M.D. degree from the Duke University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency training at Philadelphia General Hospital. This was followed by a three year Fellowship in Internal Medicine at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Fordham practiced Medicine in Raleigh and Wyoming counties for 40 years and was part owner of the Wyoming General Hospital. He was among the last physicians in the area who regularly made house calls. Often because of travel difficulties, he traveled to his patients by horseback. For several years prior to his retirement, his interest turned to disability evaluations for Social Security and Workman’s Compensation for those injured while employed. Because of his reputation for thoroughness, his services were in high demand by attorneys throughout the Appalachian coal mining area. Dr. Fordham was a member of the Wyoming County County Medical Society, the West Virginia Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the American College of Chest Physicians, a Fellow of the American Occupational Medical Association, and a Fellow in the American Geriatrics Association. He was also a member of the Mullens Rotary Club and the Mullens Lion Club. He took great pride in his Certified Tree Farm and, in 1961, was appointed a member of the West Virginia Governor’s Committee on Wood Utilization. His favorite hobbies were horseback riding, vegetable gardening, and reading. An active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Dr. Fordham was co-chairman of the Building Committee which started and managed the construction of the current church on Terry Street. Preceding him in death was his wife of 65 years, Ruth Hawes Fordham and daughter Catherine F. Aubert (Charles), Marietta, GA. Dr. Fordham is survived by his son, George F. Fordham, Jr., Bridgeport, WV, daughter Ellen Kuebler (Bill), granddaughters Amy Stahley (Mark), and Kateri Knosp (Scott) all of Cincinnati, Ohio. Great-grandchildren are Dominic and Aidan Stahley; and Kira and Emma Knosp. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church on March 22, 2013 at 10:00am with co-celebrants Rev. Cu Ming Duong and Rev. Jack Reich. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Beckley. Memorials may be made to the St. John the Evangelist Church, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or charity of choice.