Pa Joseph Ndzelen Wirlen (Ndzeyebir) was born on September 13th, 1941 in Kumbo-Nso Bui division to the parents of Mama Aurelia Diyka and Papa Raymond Wirdin, all of Blessed memory. He was the only child to his mother since his father died in his early childhood. He started his early life with his cousin late Fai Kiran (Peter Ndzedzeni) in Kumbo where he did his primary education before proceeding to St Joseph College Sasse in 1958 (class of Mbo Boys). He later moved to CCAST Bambili before proceeding to the University of Yaoundé where he obtained a B.A in Modern Letters. He subsequently enrolled into ENS Yaoundé and graduated as an English Language/ Literature Teacher in 1969 and was posted to Lycee de Yaoundé. It was during this period that he met the dream of his life, Celine Ya-lem Mengnjoh (RIP) and they got married in 1970 giving birth to their first child Raymond Verla. He was transferred to Sangmelima in the, then Centre-South province where he taught for two years and had his second child, Kenneth Wirdin. Due to constant penchant for knowledge he obtained his DES in the University of Yaoundé in January 1972. He moved back to Yaoundé in 1974 and had his third child Lucas Aver. He was transferred to CCAS Kumba as an English Litreature teacher and appointed Vice Principal one year after. He stayed in Kumba for seven years and was blessed with two more children Yvette Yaya and Giselle Boigha. In 1982, he was transferred to serve as Vice Principal of GHS Wum and in March of 1983 he was elevated to the principal of GHS Kumbo. He stayed in Kumbo for three years and was blessed again with the last child Bernard Bongwong in 1984.
Following his brilliant transformation of GSS Kumbo to GHS, he was transferred to Bamenda in the same capacity to transform GBSS into GBHS in the 1986/87 academic year until 1989 when he was moved to the North West delegation of Education. In 1991 he was transferred to the Adamawa Delegation of Education as Pedagogic Inspector of English. In the 1993/94school year he was again appointed Principal of GHS Kumbo and served there for only three years before he was moved back to the Delegation of National Education in Bamenda from where he retired in 2002.
He will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched as a seasoned school administrator either as students or teachers.
Spiritually, Pa Wirlen was a very devoted Roman Catholic Christian. He spared no effort in promoting his faith and conviction where ever he found himself. He laid a solid foundation for all his kids to attend Catholic colleges even during those difficult periods when salaries were drastically slashed. He was an active member in his small Christian community of St Monica, of the St John church Foncha Street.
Socially, he contributed enormously to the sustainability of the Kumbo Water Authority; an initiative that earned him the title of “Shey” for his selfless services during his reign as the Chairman from His Majesty the Fon of Nso.He did not have much but made sure he helped all those who called on him for assistance morally and financially.
He was an active member in many social groups like the SOBANS especially his class group - the “MBO BOYS” whom he was supposed to host on that same day, the Good Lord called him to Eternity. He was adviser to NSODA, SEMO, KIKAA, Rokong, Ngukov, KONG, Bonamor, Samba Foncha street, and the Nso Think-Tank group in Foncha Street.
He will be missed by his six children,The Ngukov and Meluf families, in-laws, grand-children, relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Rest in Peace Till we all shall meet to part no more.
Raymond Wirlen for the Family