Harold Wolff

Harold Edwin Wolff, 86, of Natchitoches, La., died Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La. A funeral service for Mr. Wolff will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Natchitoches, La. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Friday, September 12, 2008 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, La. A funeral service preceding the burial will be held 10 a.m. Monday, September 15, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Old Dime Box, Texas. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be at the Old Dime Box Cemetery in Old Dime Box, Texas under the direction of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, La. with support from Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas. Rev. John Karle, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Natchitoches, La. will officiate all funeral services. Mr. Wolff was born January 12, 1922 in Chriesman, Texas and was a baptized and confirmed member of Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell during his childhood. Mr. Wolff entered the State A&M College of Texas, now known as Texas A&M University, in 1939, but his college years were interrupted by his call to duty to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He completed training in Kansas, North Carolina and Texas and was an aerial gunnery instructor in Ft. Meyers, Florida as well as a flight engineer on B-24 and B-17 type airplanes. At the conclusion of the war in 1946, Mr. Wolff returned to the State A&M College of Texas. Mr. Wolff, Class of ’43, received his B. S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. He kept in touch with his fellow pilots and enjoyed flying with them through the years. Harold was wed to Georgia Yeary on February 11, 1951 at First Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. They resided in Houston where Mr. Wolff worked for WKM Valve Company. Harold and Georgia were charter members of Salem Lutheran Church. Their oldest son, John, was the first child baptized in this new congregation. In 1966, Mr. Wolff and his family moved to Alexandria, La. where he was employed with the Dresser Industries Valve Division in Tioga until his retirement in 1987. During his 21 years of employment with Dresser, Mr. Wolff was a Design Engineer with professional engineering credentials. He was credited with the design and patent for several Hancock valves and the Y-Pattern valve used primarily in power plants. Mr. Wolff was an active member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alexandria and served in numerous roles including elder, president, youth instructor and youth advisor. Mr. Wolff was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Texas A&M Century Club, Central Louisiana A&M Club, Alpine Country Club, governmental and community infrastructure study groups, Lutheran Brotherhood and Twin City Twirlers Square Dance Club. Harold and Georgia funded an endowment at Texas A&M University and loved participating in the summer Aggie Hostel Program. They enjoyed refinishing furniture and playing bridge with friends. Mr. Wolff remained actively involved with cattle ranching in Lee County, Texas and enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting and fishing. Golf was a true passion and he won numerous trophies. In retirement, Harold mastered the Bringhurst par three course in Alexandria, La. with numerous holes-in-one. Harold moved with Georgia to Natchitoches, La. in 2003 and was an active member of Christ the King Lutheran Church. Mr. Wolff was involved in bingo and other activities with the Council on Aging and Cane Garden Apartments. Mr. Wolff enjoyed the monthly Young at Heart luncheons and his friends at First United Methodist Church. Harold’s faithful devotion to his Lord and to Georgia, as well as his wit and wisdom, will be cherished and remain an inspiration for all who had the privilege to know him. Mr. Wolff is preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Yeary Wolff; brother, Charles Wolff; two sisters, Lois Wolff Gregory and infant Virginia Evelyn Wolff; parents, Edwin G. Wolff and Erna Hannes Wolff. He is survived by one daughter, Joan Wolff Terrell and husband Drake of Houston, Texas; two sons, John Wolff of Old Dime Box, Texas and Mike Wolff and wife Rebekah of Natchitoches, La.; six grandchildren, John Wolff, Jake Terrell, Dylan Terrell, David M. Wolff, Anne Marie Wolff and James Wolff; sister-in-law, Billie Wolff of Brenham, Texas; brother-in-law, Joe Gregory of San Antonio, Texas. Memorials may be made to outreach support ministries for Christ the King Lutheran Church in Natchitoches, La. or Trinity Lutheran Church in Old Dime Box, Texas. Pallbearers in Natchitoches, La. will be Francis Artley, Craig Burkhalter, Jim Ortiz, Richard Snyder, Jake Terrell and David M. Wolff. Pallbearers in Old Dime Box, Texas will be Dan Dunn, Matthew Gregory, Bob Smith, Jake Terrell, David Wolff and David M. Wolff.