McKELVEY – Attorney Jeanne W., 68, Salix, died June 29, 2015, at Windber Hospice.

Born Feb. 10, 1947, in Johnstown, daughter of Dr. Donald R. and Wilma (Miller) Wolford-Murphy. Preceded in death by father and stepson, William McKelvey Jr. Survived by husband of 37 years, William G. McKelvey; son, Colt A.; daughter, Chey Y. McKelvey; stepson, Dr. Robert J. (Sharon) McKelvey; grandchildren, Leanne, Laura, Joshua, John, Joseph and Lydia; brothers, Dr. Gary Wolford and Dr. Larry Wolford; and nieces and nephews, Dax, Dallas, Daniel, Demi, Dylan, Dash, Donald and Lynn Wolford.

Member and organist at Trinity PCA Church, Hostetler Road, Richland.

In 1965, Jeanne Wolford McKelvey earned the highest honor that Pitt-Johnstown bestows upon its more than 20,500 alumni. The award recognizes individual achievements, leadership in professions, service to community and loyalty to alma mater.

Her outstanding advocacy work helped to establish the Windber Research Institute, which is at the cutting edge of scientific research, nationally and internationally.

She represented the very finest of Pitt-Johnstown and stood as a shining example of career and professional success in the real world, service to community, and pride in her alma mater.

McKelvey was an owner, director, vice president and legal counsel for McKelvey Oil Co. Inc.

She also was owner and director of Mountain Top Technologies Inc.

Prior to her current positions, McKelvey was a medical technologist and chief technologist at Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital; a chief technologist at Johnstown Regional Blood Center; an allied health training program coordinator and assistant director for public affairs at Pitt-Johnstown; director, owner, secretary and legal counsel for Highland Financial Ltd.; and an instructor for business law at St. Francis College.

Actively engaged in her community, McKelvey was secretary of the board of directors, executive committee member, immediate past chairwoman of finance and personnel committee and initiator of the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center for Windber Medical Center; treasurer of the board of directors, incorporator and trustee for Windber Research Institute; vice chairwoman, director and secretary of the board for 1st Summit Bank; and member of the Hiram G. Andrews Center Special Planning Task Force, among myriad other present and past positions.

She served as past director for the Pitt-Johnstown Foundation for Campus Ministry, which presented her the Chi Rho Award in 1987.

Following an early graduation from Adams Township High School (she skipped her senior year), McKelvey enrolled at Pitt-Johnstown, where she majored in microbiology; she was accepted into Pitt-Oakland’s first class in its School of Medical Technology. She received a master’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. McKelvey later went on to earn her juris doctor degree at the Dickinson School of Law.

She was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of Florida and the Western District of the United States Federal Court for the Third Circuit. McKelvey was a member of the Fulton, Cambria and Allegheny County bar associations. In 1984, then-Governor Richard Thornburg appointed her to the Board of Medical Education and Licensure for the commonwealth, where she served for 10 years. Additionally, she studied at St. Andrews University in Scotland and Cambridge University in England.

McKelvey is a 17-year survivor of breast cancer, which reached stage four in 2008. A supporter of breast cancer research and awareness, McKelvey was honored as the 2013 recipient of Windber Research Institute’s Taunia Oechslin Community Advocate for Breast Cancer Research Award at the fifth annual Pink Tie Affair to celebrate breast cancer awareness month. 

A native of Johnstown, McKelvey resided in Salix with her husband, William G. McKelvey, and 21-year old twins, Colt and Chey. During her free time, she enjoyed flying, horse training and riding, golf, sewing, music and skating. She was a private mission-qualified instrument rated pilot and was a commissioned colonel in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP); she was the first woman ever appointed as national controller of the CAP.

Friends received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland, and from 9 a.m. until time of funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity PCA Church, the Rev. Dr. David Karlberg, pastor. Interment, Deer Creek Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Family suggests donations to Trinity PCA Church or Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in memory of Jeanne. Online condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com.

WINDBER - Thanks to a dream of a local cancer survivor, the [Windber Medical Center (2001)] will enter into a breast cancer risk assessment, treatment and research partnership with Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. 

U.S. Rep. John Murtha, announced on Thursday, that a portion of the $7 .5 million dollar grant from the Department of Defense will be used to establish a facility at Windber Medical Center with all research, diagnostic and treatment modalities needed to mirror screenings set up by Walter Reed.

Murtha said that the funds became a reality because of the strong views of local breast cancer survivors, including [Jeanne (Wolford) McKelvey (born 1947)], Windber Medical Center treasurer. 

"I am convinced that we will be able to find a cure and ultimately be. able to prevent breast cancer and that's why I've been in the forefront in directing over $S00 million of defense funding into breast cancer research and related programs in recent years," Murtha said. "It makes economic sense and defense sense to focus on breast cancer research and treatment for our servicewomen, especially when these programs can simultaneously benefit every women and the families of every women in America who faces breast cancer.'

[Jeanne (Wolford) McKelvey (born 1947)] spoke on the role she played in seeing the [Windber Medical Center (2001)] become part of such an important program.

McKelvey said that having gone through the treatment, she knew there had to be a better way. Since she and her husband are friends with the Congressman and his wife, McKelvey said concern was always expressed for her well being . "When we ran into them at a social event, the Congressman asked about my experience and what he could do for the women in this area who may be going through the same thing."

"You would be able to talk to others who have gone through the same thing because people who have been through the experience can help others. It would really be sort of a home away from home."

After listening to McKelvey, the Congressman asked where she would suggest such a center be located and she answered, the Windber Medical Center. Murtha issued McKelvey a challenge to put together a proposal for such a center, within ten days. McKelvey called [Francis Nicholas "Nick" Jacobs (born 1947)], CEO of Windber Medical Center, who had just returned from a trip to Bosnia, and the proposal was prepared within three days, she said. 

Jacobs commended McKelvey for her work on the project. He said, "through programs to prevent breast center, we will be able to prevent breast cancer."  Jacobs said that the new facility will be located near the $8 million dollar medical arts buildings  and will be called the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center. "I think this is the first public facility in the area to be identified with Mrs. Murtha."

The Windber Medical Center's new breast care center will operate as an effective research screening facility to test Department of Defense beneficiaries of the genetic mutation that causes breast cancer in women. If the studies show women are prone to cancer through genetics, research will determine the proper protocols to be used army-wide to prevent the onslaught of breast cancer in both women in the military and Department of Defense dependents.