Tribute
Stephen Bradley Wolfe, Sr. (August 6, 1944 to December 6, 2020)
Stephen Bradley Wolfe was born on August 6, 1944 in Woodward, Oklahoma. He was the son of Helen Louise (Dockerty) Wolfe and B. E. (Bill) Wolfe, who was a B-24 pilot in the Pacific at the time. After WWII, the Wolfe family moved to Hereford, Texas and later to Roswell, NM, where Bill started an irrigation contracting business. B. E. Wolfe died in July 2001 and Helen in June 2006.
After his active-duty military time, Steve met his wife of 48 years, Gwendolyn Thomas, who survives him. They were married on July 31, 1972 at the First United Methodist Church of Roswell. The couple had three children, all of whom survive him. Dr. Stacia Lusby and her husband, James, reside and practice medicine in Amarillo, Texas. Stephanie Schels and her husband, Jeff. live in Belton, Texas, where she taught school and he is a Chiropractic Physician. Stephen Bradley Wolfe, Jr. (Brad) and his wife Rachel live and work in Washington, D.C. Steve has six grandsons, Luke, Lincoln, Landon, and Levi Lusby of Amarillo, Cooper Schels of Belton and Casper Wolfe of Alexandria, VA. He has three granddaughters, Adeliene (Addie) Lou and Poppy Belle Wolfe of Alexandria, VA, and Taylor Schels of Belton, Texas.
Wolfe is also survived by his brother, John Leslie Wolfe and wife Brenna, of Bowie, Maryland, and by his sister Jennifer Lynn Wolfe, of Roswell, and their families.
Steve attended school in Roswell, graduating from Roswell High School in 1962 and he maintained close bonds with many of his high school friends his entire life. It was during his high school years that Steve began a love of choral music which lasted all of his life. Steve sang Baritone in the original “Roadrunners” barbershop quartet.
At Texas Tech, Steve continued his enjoyment of music, singing and touring with the Tech Choir. He was active in campus activities, including his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and as a Saddle Tramp, the Tech spirit organization. Steve received a BBA, majoring in Marketing, in August 1966. Not long after that, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was commissioned an Ensign on February 12, 1967. He reported to his first sea-going assignment, the USS Jenkins (DD447) later that year. Steve was proud to call himself a “Tin Can Sailor”. He served aboard the ship for about three years, during which time the ship made two deployments to Southeast Asia.
When Wolfe left active duty in 1971, he continued his career as a Naval Reservist, serving in various Reserve Commands over 23 years. His last major assignment was as the Navy Liaison Officer to the State Area Command of the New Mexico Army National Guard. He retired as a Navy Captain in November 1989. Captain Wolfe was a qualified Surface Warfare Officer and wore the National Defense Service Medal, the VietNam Service Medal with four campaign stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the VietNam Campaign Medal, and the New Mexico Meritorious Service Medal.
Steve’s greatest loves were his family, his Lord, his vocal music, his Country, and his community. He took great pride in the activities and accomplishments of his wife Gwen and his children. He was passionate about choral music, singing for many years in the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and in Amarillo, at St Stephen United Methodist Church. His work, always important to him, included twelve years with a family company, B. E. Wolfe and Co, and then with Pepsi Bottling Group until he retired in December 2002. He began a new career in 2003, working as an Estimator for Armstrong Construction Co. and finally in 2009 began working for the Neighborhood Watch organization in Roswell. He and Gwen retired to Amarillo, Texas in July 2016.
Wolfe was active in his community as well. Through the years, he served on the Board of Directors for the Roswell Chapter of the American Red Cross, as a founding board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern New Mexico, and as president of the Chaves County Crime Stoppers. He particularly enjoyed a long-time affiliation with the New Mexico Soft Drink Association, serving as president during 2000-2001. He was also named the "Outstanding Citizen" in Roswell in 2016 for his numerous contributions to his community.
Steve was a loving grandfather, father, and husband and he will be sorely missed by a whole community of those who knew and loved him. The family will be hosting a small service on Friday, December 11 at 2:00 PM at the St Stephen United Methodist Church. Online viewing will be available for those who are unable to attend. The family will post a video on Wolfe's Facebook page and has created a YouTube channel for viewing: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLcNj-wm0ovBKtYryrWuHQ/featured
For those who would like to send flowers, the family requests that a charitable donation be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made through the organization’s website at www.support.nmcrs.org .
