Former College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member William “Bill” Allmond Wolff, 90, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, at Solstice Senior Living of Columbia.
Services will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at the VFW Post 5520, 609 Edgebrook Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820.
A sympathy card is available in the CVM Office of the Dean for members of the CVM community to sign.
He was born on Feb. 11, 1930, in Denver, Colorado, to Hiram and Stella (Allmond) Wolff. He graduated from East Denver High School in 1948. Immediately following graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserves as a meat and dairy inspector during the Korean War. Following his military experience, he began general agriculture courses and worked at Painter Herford Ranch. A veterinarian who worked at the ranch assisted him in applying to Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Fort Collins, Colorado. He received a master of science degree, and went on to earn his doctorate of veterinary medicine in June of 1954.
He built a small animal clinic in Montrose, Colorado. He also served in the Army Veterinary Corps. Wolff and his family traveled during his veterinary medicine years. He and his family first lived in Bogota, Colombia, for two years. They moved to Columbia, Missouri, then Arvada, Colorado. They then left the United States for a sabbatical in Nairobi, Kenya, for four years. They returned to Champaign, Illinois, where Wolff worked at the University of Illinois, before returning to Columbia, where he worked at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. After settling in Columbia, he made four trips to El Salvador to work primarily with dairy cattle and to train students. He also served as an instructor and extension specialist.
He was a past chairman of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Emergency Management and Public Health Committee and past director of the Missouri Volunteer Veterinary Corps. He helped build the MOVVC into a group of 300 veterinarians, ready to assist the state and federal governments during natural disasters and animal disease outbreaks in Missouri. The MVMA honored him as Veterinarian of the Year in 2015.
He was a member of the Pachyderm Club, the VFW, and enjoyed attending and performing at the Baptist Church in Ashland, Missouri. He was fluent in Spanish and Swahili. He enjoyed bike riding on the Katy Trail, fishing, hunting, and performing for nursing home residents. He loved playing guitar and singing. His most memorable performance was surprising his granddaughter at her wedding reception by playing and singing for her.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen Wolff. Other survivors include his daughter, Krissa (Bill) Slade; son, Kevin (Maureen) Wolff; Eileen’s three children, David (Nancy), Tom and Linda; grandchildren, Meagan (Kyle), Kolton, Skylar, David and Abigail; and great grandson, Casen William.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory; 12 East Ash St. Columbia, Missouri, 65203; (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.ParkerMillard.com
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