Esther Rae Wolford

Esther Rae Wolford of the Hudson Valley Senior Residence, Kingston, NY died Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at Kingston Hospital. She was 91. She was born in New York City in 1917, a daughter of the late Hyman and Nellie Saltzman. Mrs. Wolford spent most of her life in California, graduating from Hollywood High, UC Berkley and USC with a Masters in Social Work. She worked for the Red Cross during World War II and helped develop the community-based Spastic Children's Foundation (now United Cerebral Palsy) in Los Angeles. For many years she worked for the State of California as a Social Worker. She was involved in Reform Judaism in Southern California and as an advocate for the disabled. After she retired, she was an active volunteer, including as a member of the League of Women Voters and for Little Company of Mary Hospital, both in Torrance, CA. She was a volunteer and supporter of KUSC, Public Radio in Los Angeles, and the LA Philharmonic. Her husband, Marvin E. Wolford, one son Marshall I. Wolford and one sister Sylvia Sims all died previously. Surviving are her daughter Hilarie Staton and her husband Joe of Kingston; and several nieces and nephews. Inurnment will be in the Hillside Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Los Angeles, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hudson Valley Senior Residence, 80 Washington Ave., Kingston, NY 12401 or City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Rd., Duarte, California 91010.