Laurence H. Wolfe, of Proctorville, Ohio, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Thursday, Feb. 15, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. He was 89 and had battled a long illness. Laurence was retired from the Social Security Administration, having served as manager of the agency’s office in Ironton, Ohio. He was a proud graduate of the University of Kentucky, Class of 1951, and a Navy veteran. He also was long active in Rotary International, having served as president of Ironton Rotary Club, and was a Paul Harris fellow. First and foremost, however, Laurence was a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ and a faithful member of Beulah Baptist Church in Proctorville. Laurence was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Virginia Helton Wolfe. Survivors include his children — Charles Wolfe (Susan), of Frankfort, Kentucky; Rena Wolfe Allen (Michael), of Proctorville, and the Rev. William Wolfe (Carol), of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also is survived by seven grandchildren— Zachary Wolfe (Kara), of Manchester, Maryland; Thomas Wolfe, of Frankfort; Jennifer Allen Graham (Lines) and Chad M. Allen (Patricia), both of Proctorville; and David Wolfe, Kecia Wolfe Hodges (Kevin), and Elizabeth Wolfe Terveen (Mike), all of Colorado Springs. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren — Mallory, Andy and Leah Graham, of Proctorville; Grace, Chase, J.C., and Jax Allen, of Proctorville; Jesse, Reagan and Corin Hodges, of Colorado Springs, and Harvey Wolfe, of Manchester, Maryland. Other family members predeceasing him included a brother, Silas Dean Wolfe Jr., and a sister, Della Wolfe Irwin. Hall Funeral Home, of Proctorville, is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m. EST at Hall Funeral Home, 625 County Road 775 in Proctorville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, with a graveside service and burial to follow at Highland Memorial Park, Staffordsville, Kentucky. Laurence was born in 1928 at Stone, Kentucky, a coal camp in Pike County. He was the youngest of three children of Silas Dean Wolfe and Grace Williamson Wolfe. Laurence began school at Feds Creek, also in Pike County. But when his father was killed underground, the family migrated to Wittensville, in Johnson County, where Grace was appointed postmistress. Laurence and Virginia met at Oil Springs School, where Laurence graduated in 1945. After a freshman year at Berea College, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Norfolk, Virginia. Laurence and Virginia were married in August 1948 at Paintsville, Kentucky, and he used the GI Bill to attend the University of Kentucky, earning a B.S. degree in agriculture. He joined the Social Security Administration in 1962 and was assigned to the Marietta, Ohio, office. He moved to the office in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1967. Two years later Laurence was appointed to open a new office in Ironton, where he retired in 1989. Laurence and Virginia moved to Proctorville in 2003. After Virginia’s death in 2014, Laurence resided at The Wyngate at River’s Edge, a retirement community in Proctorville. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to staff and residents of The Wyngate and to the nursing staff of St. Mary’s Medical Center for their friendship, many kindnesses and medical care. Memorial contributions are suggested to the building fund of Beulah Baptist Church, P.O. Box 421, Proctorville, Ohio 45669. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.
