Obituary of Bill Wolfe

William C. Wolfe, 93, husband of Valarie M. Wolfe of Simpsonville, passed away on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025.

Bill was born in Altoona, PA, the second son of the late Robert Heber Wolfe and Helen Knisely Wolfe. He attended Fairview Grade School, Keith Jr. High School, and Altoona High School, where his father was a physical education teacher. Bill played the trombone in junior high school and basketball in senior high school.

Following graduation from senior high school in 1949, Bill went to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. He was made company commander in his senior year and was a starter and high scorer for three years on the basketball team, being named co-captain his senior year.

After graduating from the Academy in 1953 with a BS in Engineering, Bill served in the US Navy for two years as an engineering officer on a destroyer escort. He joined the Babcock and Wilcox Company in 1956, where he was employed for 29 years. While employed with Babcock and Wilcox, he attended Kent State University and earned an MBA in 1977. He retired from Babcock and Wilcox in 1985 and joined BE&K Inc., an engineering and construction company in Birmingham, AL. His last place of employment was Kvaerner Pulping, Charlotte, NC, where he retired as Vice President of Operating Plant Services.

Following retirement, Bill consulted for another 12 years in the industrial power and the pulp and paper markets. His specialty was chemical recovery boilers in pulp and paper mills. During his career, he had the opportunity to travel throughout the world, including six continents, forty-two countries, and forty-nine states.

Bill and his wife Valerie continued their travel in their retirement. They owned a condo at N. Myrtle Beach, SC, where they would go year-round. Bill’s favorite area was the Southeast USA, where he retired and made his final voyage.

Bill was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Fern Kitson, and a brother, Robert K. Wolfe.

In addition to his wife, Valarie, Bill is survived by two sons, William C. Wolfe Jr. (Laura) of Longboat Key, FL, and Erik W. Wolfe (Tammy) of Massillon, OH; and a sister, Susan K. Earnest of Allentown, PA. Bill had three grandchildren: William C. Wolfe III, Grace, and Megan. He had two stepdaughters, Stacey Barrett (Danny) and Tia Rudy (Derik); step-granddaughter Haley Batson; and step-grandsons Toby and Nicholas.

Bill’s life will be celebrated at Fletcher Funeral Service with a visitation on Saturday, January 18th, at 2 pm.  A celebration of life service will begin at 3:00 pm.