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FELLOWSVILLE – A firefighter who spent years answering calls for help will never return home to the family and fellow firefighters who loved him.
Justin Wolfe, director of the Preston County Office of Emergency Management, said Clinton “JR” Wolfe, a beloved member and former assistant chief of the Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department, was a dedicated fireman who gave 43 years of service to the the community. He said he was also an EMT with Mountaineer Ambulance.
"It was a family tradition for them to help," Justin said. "His father, George, was chief of the Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department and served 54 years, 37 of them as chief. His brother was a fireman as well."
He said JR was the assistant chief for a while and was King Fireman in 2013 during the Buckwheat Festival.
"His wife was a math teacher. I had her in middle school," Justin said. "His sister-in-law has dispatched for us for 20 years."
JR passed away Sunday afternoon in what has been recognized as a line-of-duty loss, members of the Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department posted.
Justin said JR’s last call was an assist call in Taylor County.
Edgar Fortney, mayor of Newburg, said he and JR had been friends for years. He said his (Fortney’s) brother’s wife and J.R.’s wife were sisters.
"I worked with him back when I ran with him on the ambulance," Fortney said. "Him and his dad both served with the ambulance service and with the volunteer fire department. He was the kind of person who would help anyone."
Preston County Sheriff Scott Spiker said when he belonged to the Newburg Volunteer Fire Department and JR was with the Fellowsville VFD they went on some of the same calls.
"We trained together. He was a great guy and a great firefighter," Spiker said. "He will be greatly missed."
On its Facebook page, Fellowsville VFD posted: "JR was known for his loyalty and years of service. In 2013, he proudly represented Preston County as King Fireman at the Buckwheat Festival. But beyond his uniform, he was a loving father, son, brother, and father-in-law whose absence will be deeply felt.”
The Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department has also joined in mourning his passing. “A family has lost someone precious, and a fire department has lost one of its own. May JR rest in peace, and may prayers bring strength to his grieving family."
Family and friends will be received at Bolyard Funeral Home, 79 Morgantown Avenue, Newburg, on Saturday, November 14, from noon to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, November 15, from noon until the funeral service at 2 p.m., with Pastor Marjorie Waybright officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department, 18 Fire Dept Loop, Tunnelton, WV 26444.
Online condolences may be offered at www.bolyardfuneralhomewv.com.
Clinton "J.R." Wolfe, a beloved member and former assistant chief of the Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department, passed away Sunday afternoon in what has been recognized as a line-of-duty loss, members of the Fellowsville Volunteer Fire Department posted.