George
George Thomas Wolf
d. March 26, 2016
George Wolf died quietly in his home at La Vida Llena with his wife of 72 years, Louella, at his side on March 26, 2016. He was 94 years old.
George was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, the son of George Earnest Wolf and Caroline Christina Bukenhofer Wolf. After testing aircraft engines for the Allison Division in Indianapolis and serving in the Navy in WWII, he went back to college and received a degree from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Electrical Engineering. He married Louella Louise Poellein of Boonville, Indiana in 1943.
He was employed by General Electric in 1949 and worked at several of their plants in upstate New York for the next 34 years. While living in Schenectady, Syracuse, and Auburn he and Lou raised five daughters. George and Lou were insistent that all of their girls get good educations. They were very proud that all of their daughters studied and received college degrees at a time when this was only becoming a new norm for women.
George's lifelong hobby was gardening. He made sure that everywhere they lived the yard was full of beautiful blooms and immaculately kept.
George retired in 1983 and he and Lou moved "back home again" to Indiana. They lived in Newburgh where George had enough time to pursue researching the genealogy of both his and Lou's family. To facilitate this research they both began to study German. They took numerous trips to Germany and Switzerland to peruse ancestral records and were even able to find and become friends with distant parts of their families still living in Europe.
Travel was also something he greatly enjoyed. He and Lou visited all the continents except Antartica. He especially enjoyed seeing the wildlife in Africa. Their daughter, Janet, who was a flight attendant for TWA, accompanied them on a trip around the world.
In 2002 he and Lou moved to Albuquerque, NM. and took up residence in La Vida Llena to be near a daughter. George looked for ways to serve his new community and even became President of the Residents' Council. He continued his gardening in a small plot at La Vida Llena until his health began to fail two years ago.
He had four brothers. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Wolf and is survived by his brothers John Wolf of Terre Haute, Indiana and Richard Wolf of Clayton, Missouri
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janet Louise Wolf Christopher. He is survived by his wife, Louella; four daughters and their husbands, Carolyn and Robert Havlen of Albuquerque, Cindy and Jim Waddington of Honolulu, Hawaii, Christina Wolf of Vienna, VA, Lynn and Steve Matzen of East Hampton, NY; seven adult grandchildren, Pamela Havlen of Denver, CO, Naomi Havlen of Aspen, CO, Charles Christopher of Chambersburg, PA, L. Tomasetti, Nicholas Tomasetti of Vienna, VA, Sara Hadden of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and Chris Matzen of East Hampton, NY; There are eight great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family is very grateful to the staff of La Vida Llena Assisted Living and Healthcare units, as well as Ambercare Hospice for the compassionate care given to our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. You all enabled him to decline and die with dignity in his home as he wished.
The memorial service will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016, at 10 a.m. at La Vida Llena in Carter Hall at 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE in Albuquerque.
If you wish to make a memorial donation, the family would suggest The Full Life Foundation, 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87111.
George was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, the son of George Earnest Wolf and Caroline Christina Bukenhofer Wolf. After testing aircraft engines for the Allison Division in Indianapolis and serving in the Navy in WWII, he went back to college and received a degree from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Electrical Engineering. He married Louella Louise Poellein of Boonville, Indiana in 1943.
He was employed by General Electric in 1949 and worked at several of their plants in upstate New York for the next 34 years. While living in Schenectady, Syracuse, and Auburn he and Lou raised five daughters. George and Lou were insistent that all of their girls get good educations. They were very proud that all of their daughters studied and received college degrees at a time when this was only becoming a new norm for women.
George's lifelong hobby was gardening. He made sure that everywhere they lived the yard was full of beautiful blooms and immaculately kept.
George retired in 1983 and he and Lou moved "back home again" to Indiana. They lived in Newburgh where George had enough time to pursue researching the genealogy of both his and Lou's family. To facilitate this research they both began to study German. They took numerous trips to Germany and Switzerland to peruse ancestral records and were even able to find and become friends with distant parts of their families still living in Europe.
Travel was also something he greatly enjoyed. He and Lou visited all the continents except Antartica. He especially enjoyed seeing the wildlife in Africa. Their daughter, Janet, who was a flight attendant for TWA, accompanied them on a trip around the world.
In 2002 he and Lou moved to Albuquerque, NM. and took up residence in La Vida Llena to be near a daughter. George looked for ways to serve his new community and even became President of the Residents' Council. He continued his gardening in a small plot at La Vida Llena until his health began to fail two years ago.
He had four brothers. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Wolf and is survived by his brothers John Wolf of Terre Haute, Indiana and Richard Wolf of Clayton, Missouri
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janet Louise Wolf Christopher. He is survived by his wife, Louella; four daughters and their husbands, Carolyn and Robert Havlen of Albuquerque, Cindy and Jim Waddington of Honolulu, Hawaii, Christina Wolf of Vienna, VA, Lynn and Steve Matzen of East Hampton, NY; seven adult grandchildren, Pamela Havlen of Denver, CO, Naomi Havlen of Aspen, CO, Charles Christopher of Chambersburg, PA, L. Tomasetti, Nicholas Tomasetti of Vienna, VA, Sara Hadden of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and Chris Matzen of East Hampton, NY; There are eight great-grandchildren and one on the way.
The family is very grateful to the staff of La Vida Llena Assisted Living and Healthcare units, as well as Ambercare Hospice for the compassionate care given to our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. You all enabled him to decline and die with dignity in his home as he wished.
The memorial service will be held on Monday, April 4, 2016, at 10 a.m. at La Vida Llena in Carter Hall at 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE in Albuquerque.
If you wish to make a memorial donation, the family would suggest The Full Life Foundation, 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87111.
Service Details
Monday, April 4th, 2016, 10:00am, La Vida Llena
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