OBITUARY

Walter William "Bill" Wolf, 94, passed away at Memory Manor in Pomeroy on Monday, August 3, 2020. Bill was born to Frank Joseph Wolf and Elizabeth M. (Feider) Wolf in Pomeroy, Wash., Tuesday, January 5, 1926. He grew up on the family farm on Washboard Road along with his brothers and sisters. He attended grade school in the country at the Bratcher Schoolhouse and then attended high school in Pomeroy.

He and his elder brother, Dick, farmed with their father. They raised wheat, barley, dry land alfalfa and registered horned Hereford cattle. Bill loved farming and the cattle business. He was still driving combine and tractor when he was in his early eighties.

Bill served in the Air Force between 1950-1954. He was stationed at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, and Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Ala. He was assigned duty on the Distant Early Warning line. He worked on power plants and heavy equipment.

While Doris Ann Gimlin was home in Pomeroy on summer break from teaching school, she met Bill. They were married on December 28, 1957, at Holy Rosary Church in Pomeroy. As Bill would often say, Doris Ann was the best thing that ever happened to him. They enjoyed 57 years of marriage before her passing on February 7, 2015. They were loving parents to their three children, Ray, Kayleen and Lee.

Over the years, in addition to his farming activities, Bill was active in the community. He was appointed by the governor to the Beef Commission in 1978, was on the State Noxious Weed Board, director of the Walla Walla PCA (now Farm Credit Services) and a longtime member of the Cattlemen's Association.

He was a devout Catholic. He was in church every Sunday and expected his children and grandchildren, when they were in town, to be in the pew right along with he and Doris Ann. When Bill could no longer live at home and moved to Memory Manor, he continued to keep faith by listening to Mass on TV. In fact, while Bill listened to Mass on TV, probably every resident on the hall listened to Mass whether they were Catholic or not as Bill was quite deaf so the sound of the TV reverberated up and down the hallway, but no one seemed to complain. He very much enjoyed all the church family that came weekly to say the Rosary with him. When Holy Rosary celebrated its Centennial, Bill and Doris Ann were pleased to purchase the lovely statue alongside the church. They enjoyed making the plans for it with Father Bob Turner. Even after moving to Memory Manor, he still liked to drive by the church when he was able to do so.

Bill is survived by his three children, Ray W. (Cindy) of Pomeroy, Kayleen M. (Jim) Melena of Pomeroy and Lee F. (Elisabeth Rumpelsberger) Wolf of Mukilteo, Wash .; brothers, Stan (Mona) Wolf of Post Falls, Idaho and Dennis (Beatrice) Wolf of Spokane, Wash .; grandchildren, Ashton Counts, Devin Norquist, Coralee Yeakel, Joe Wolf, Colton Wolf, Aidan Wolf; one great-grandson, Franz William Yeakel; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Francis Christopher and Edward J. (Dick); and sisters, Virginia, Rosemary and Betty.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, a small funeral Mass led by Reverend Steve Werner took place at Holy Rosary Church Friday, August 7, 2020 at 8:30 a.m., with immediate family members attending, followed by burial service at Holy Rosary Cemetery in Pomeroy.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Park, the nurses, providers and all the staff at Garfield County Hospital that were always so kind and caring during Bill's stay at Memory Manor, these last few years.