Ben Wolford of Hastings, Michigan, passed away on October 24, 2025, after a long illness that he faced with extraordinary courage and fortitude.

Ben was born January 16, during the blizzard of 1978, in Marquette, Michigan. He attended West Ottawa High School and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Ben lived a full, adventurous, and fearless life, including cross-country road trips to places like Austin, Texas, to experience South by Southwest (SXSW); Memphis, Tennessee, to visit Sun Records; countryside motorcycle rides in search of tree tunnels; family vacations to the Grand Canyon and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and many trips into the mountains of Colorado during his time living there. He worked as a cook, a driver, a musician, and a carpenter. In 2018, Ben began working as a shipping forklift operator at PCA - Grand Rapids.

Ben loved animals, most especially his dog Buster (aka Snoochworth) who he rescued from a local shelter. Ben appreciated independent, alternative, and underground music from a young age and started playing drums and guitar as a teenager. In the 90s, he was drummer for the Kalamazoo-based alt-country band Tweed. His Harley Davidson motorcycle represented freedom and peace from the trials of the world, and he got out on it as much as he could. Ben also enjoyed fishing, kayaking, movies, traveling, astronomy, psychology, and the unexplained.

Ben will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his mindful and intelligent perspectives, his penchant for solitude, and his genuine love and caring for the close-knit group of friends and family he loved deeply.

He is lovingly remembered by his parents, Thomas Neil and Alana Diane Wolford, of Hastings; sister Kimberly (Cliff) Frantz, of Holland; brother Tom (Shannon) Wolford, of Castle Rock, Colo., nieces Shi Briggs and Addison Wolford, nephew Ira Briggs, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Although Ben's physical form was with us for a heartachingly short time, his energy and spirit live on in the universe, in our thoughts, and through our acts of loving kindness.

In honor of Ben's memory, consider donating to your local animal shelter or the American Cancer Society. Or listen to a playlist of some of Ben's favorite music , watch an 80s-era Christmas movie or comedy like The 'Burbs (Ben's favorite), go on a spontaneous road trip, or watch a storm roll in.

No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life event may be held by Ben's family at a future date.