William S. Wolfe

William S. Wolfe of Seabrook Island, South Carolina, passed away on June 25, 2023. Born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania on January 27, 1933 to Ruth and Stanley Wolfe, he was raised in rural New Jersey. While growing up, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and proudly became an Eagle Scout.

Upon graduation from High School, Bill went to work for Ingersoll Rand and also enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in which he served for eight years. His service included active duty during the Korean War and selection to Electronics School at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the USS Woodsen DE 359 where he became the lead Electronics Petty Officer.

After completion of his naval career, Bill entered Lehigh University and studied Electrical engineering and Engineering Physics earning a Bachelor of Science degree. At Lehigh he was a Dean’s List student and was selected for the Engineering Honorary Society.

Upon graduation from Lehigh, Bill joined General Electric where he remained employed until his retirement 34 years later. GE initially selected him for its Patent Lawyer Development Program in Washington, D.C. resulting in Bill attending George Washington University Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree with honors. Bill spent most of his career at GE as a General Corporate Counsel for a variety of GE concerns.

In 1958, Bill married Sandra (Sandy) Jane Lee and went on to have three children. Lisa Kline of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Craig Wolfe of Roanoke, Virginia and Stephen Wolfe of Smithfield, North Carolina. Rounding out his family are eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sadly, Bill was predeceased by Sandy in January 2021.

Sandy and Bill retired to the low country in 1995. They first lived on Kiawah where Bill was Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission. In 1999 they moved to Seabrook where Bill chaired the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Bill was an active member of the John’s Island Presbyterian Church. He was ordained as both a Presbyterian Elder and Deacon. In addition to his family, Bill’s passion was choral music. Possessed of a truly beautiful tenor voice, he sang with many male and mixed choruses throughout his life. He sang with the Charleston Men’s Chorus for over a decade. Bill was an avid, if not overly accomplished, tennis player and played almost daily for much of his life. And finally, he was very proud to participate in the planning and construction of homes with Habitat for Humanity, specifically, Sea Island Habitat sites.

Bill was an extraordinary man. He was widely known for being a consummate gentleman, for being the smartest guy in any room and for his absolutely wonderful sense of humor. He will always be remembered with profound love and gratitude.

A memorial service for Bill will be held Saturday, July 1, 2023 in John's Island Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the hospice program of your choice would be greatly appreciated.