The Calhoun County Wood Festival Committee is honored to have as this year's parade marshals, Harold "Kitty" and Jeanne Wilson.
The Grand Parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6 in Grantsville.
Kitty and Jeanne Wilson moved to Grantsville in 1967. Kitty is a World War II veteran having served in North Africa and Alaska. During the war, Jeanne worked in Maryland for Erico Engineering and Research, a company that had suspended their operations to make gun turrets for the army.
Jeanne and Kitty met while ice skating on the Little Kanawha River during their years at Glenville State College. They married in 1950 and lived first in Gilmer County and then Lewis County.
When leaving Lewis County for Calhoun, Kitty was working as a supervisor for Consolidated Gas and volunteering with Boy Scout Troop 79. Jeanne was Principal of Shadybrook Primary Center, leader of Girl Scout Troop 223 and was a church youth leader.
In Grantsville, The Wilson family lived near the high school and their home became a gathering place for youth.
At one time they welcomed five young people to live with them for several years until each finished high school.
Kitty was Superintendent for Consolidated Gas and Jeanne taught third grade at Grantsville Grade School. Both continued as scout leaders and Jeanne worked with church youth as well as 4-H.
Kitty received a Consolidated Gas Company award for community service and was one of the first to be designated a "Small Town Hero," by WSAZ in Charleston.
Jeanne once rode in another Wood Festival parade after being voted, "Spirit of Calhoun County" by members of the Grantsville Junior Woman's Club. Later she was the first woman to win the state Liars Contest held in Charleston, for an oral presentation of original humorous material.
Jeanne and Kitty have three children, Mike, who works for Allegheny Power in Spencer as Electric Operations Manager, Barbara Lay, C.E.O. of Minnie Hamilton Health System and Kay Deem, a surgical nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg. They have six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Jeanne and Kitty moved to their home on Riffle Run in 1981. Kitty volunteered five days a week for thirteen years to help construct the Calhoun County Park and worked as scout leader until he had completed fifty years of service.
He was recently awarded a Governor's Lifetime Service award. An area scout award has been named after him.
Jeanne turned to a dream long deferred - becoming a writer. She organized the Calhoun-Gilmer Writers Guild and held meetings in her home for ten years.
Presently, Jeanne publishes prize winning fiction and poetry in religious and literary periodicals.
Kitty serves on the Calhoun County Park Board and plays golf. At the age of 86 he can hit a ball 240 yards off the tee.
Kitty and Jeanne look back on their transfer to Calhoun County as a blessing.
They love the hills Jeanne once walked to regain her health, and the river where they canoed and paddled their kayak.
Most especially they have enjoyed knowing Calhoun County people.
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