
Wes Wolfe
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Wescoat St Clair Wolfe passed away at the age of 89, surrounded by family and his caregiver at his home overlooking Burrows Bay as he wished. He was born to Katherine Voigt and Leon K Wolfe in Charleston, South Carolina, the youngest of four children.
Wes attended Presbyterian College and earned a BA in American History. He read every book he could ever find on the Civil War and in 1954 entered the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Japan and Korea during the Korean conflict. Wes continued working for the U S government and became a Park Ranger for the Department of Interior, National Park Service in 1959. While stationed in Maryland he worked at Fort McHenry National Monument and there he met the love of his life Catherine Virginia McKenzie, a Baltimore native and registered nurse working at John Hopkins Hospital. They were married November 24, 1961. In 1962, they moved for Wes's job to Harpers Ferry and then into Appomattox Court House, where he excelled in providing tours and information about the Civil War.
On November 27, 1962, Wes and Virginia welcomed their one and only child Catherine Jennifer Wolfe. Wes's career took the family to Ganado, Arizona where he worked feverishly to preserve the Navajo history. His next promotion was to Washington DC as he assumed the position of Superintendent of the National Monuments, including the White House.
In 1971, he earned his master's degree from the University of Maryland. In 1972, the family moved to Colorado where he oversaw services in parks and historic sites in the Western U. S. Wes retired in 1984 as Deputy Director and jumped into his love for table tennis, travel, spending time at the beach and cruising around San Diego, California, his place of retirement. He taught defensive driving school, played numerous table tennis tournaments, became a senior Olympian, and won a gold medal.
In 1992, he and Virginia followed their daughter and son-in-law, Keith to Washington State. Wes quickly became a Bellevue Table Tennis club member and played competitively for the next 25 years, eventually acquiring over 200 trophies. He was a friend of Bill W's and he celebrated 40 years recovery in 2024. Wes's life took on a new meaning with the birth of his grandsons Collin Wolfe and Carson Wesley. He spent countless hours guiding, loving, supporting, and cherishing them. In 1999 the entire family moved to beautiful Anacortes, Washington. He admittedly spoiled his grandsons and spent time with them attending their church, helping with homework, playing sports, and going on adventures. He ensured they went to college and always offered his wisdom, guidance and a few 'bucks for the road'. After caring for Virginia for 2 years, saying it "is the best job I've ever had", Virginia passed away sitting next to him in 2017. Wes followed the stock market and politics closely and in 2018 he wrote a book about the National Park Service. entitled "Inside Our National Parks and Monuments: A Perilous Fight" that sells on Amazon. He spent every holiday, birthday, and graduation with his family.
Wes was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Leon Jr and Russell (Ida Mae), his sister Kathleen 'Kitty' (Bill Henne), and his wife Catherine Virginia. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Keith Paddock) of Anacortes, his grandsons, Collin of Anacortes, and Carson (fianc?e Iris Miller) of Bellingham WA. His sister-in-law, Bettye of Germantown, MD, and his nieces, Elizabeth, Kathy, Charline, Jane, and Maria, as well as his nephews Bill Jr. and John. Dad, you are a tremendous blessing in our lives. Your guidance, generosity, love of family, spirited nature and lifelong desire to learn are the legacies you leave us to carry on. We will forever love you.
The family would like to extend our thanks to Eden Health, especially James for his exceptional care of Wes; to Lana, his private caregiver, Hospice of the NW and Dr Robert Rieger.
A Celebration of a Life Well Lived will be held August 31, 2024 at 6PM at the home of his daughter and son-in-law. Wes's ashes will be spread in various places including his favorite National Park, Glacier and the remaining will be inturned with Virginia's at Grand View Cemetery at a later date. To share memories of Wes, please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/wes-wolfe

