Harold "Hal" Furman Wolfe

Harold Furman Wolfe came into this world on April 24, 1928, in Elmira, NY, and left us on September 8, 2024.  In the afterlife, he will join his parents, Arthur and Isabell Wolfe. He had several siblings from a blended family that have all preceded him in death including Lucille Wolfe Scrimshaw, Arthur (Dottie) Wolfe, John (Jane) Gray, John (Zerl) Madden and Edward (Elsie) Madden. These families included many nieces and nephews.

“Hal”, as we all knew him, met the love of his life, Donna Marie Schaef, in 1947 at the Hayloft in Pine City. In 1949 the couple got married, and during their 74 years of marriage, their lives were fulfilled with three children - Gale (John Palladino) Wolfe, Lisa (Kent Casler) Wolfe, and Colin Wolfe,  and with two granddaughters, Jacqueline and Ashley Wolfe.  Donna preceded Hal in death on September 21, 2023, and his heart was never the same.

We remember Hal because of all the service he provided throughout his 96 years of life.  He fulfilled his service to our country by enlisting in the United States Airforce in 1951, during the Korean War, where he learned the profession of air traffic controller, a career that he continued at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport until his retirement in 1987

At the age of 10, Hal Wolfe started working to help support his family.  He had a job at a grocery store in Elmira, where he learned about that business and picked up many skills he would retain and build upon.  After settling into his job as an air traffic controller in Elmira, Hal and his brothers opened and operated the Horseheads Super Duper on the Miracle Mile in Horseheads from the early 60s until the mid-1970s.

He was involved with the “air shows” that would happen from time to time at our local airport.  His background in wartime aviation made him a natural fit to join others in the support of the “Warplane Museum.” After it was constructed next to our local airport, Hal assisted as a volunteer and participated in events and shows sponsored by the museum.

Hal also worked in the real estate business, starting with assisting local brokerages, and eventually obtaining his own license and operating his own real estate office.

In the late 60s, Donna became interested in breeding, raising and showing toy poodles.  As they became more involved with the dog shows, Dad then volunteered and was eventually elected president of the Elmira Kennel Club .  He served that organization for a few years, again helping with the hosting of dog shows in our area.

He also helped the horse community.  In the early 1970s, he was the first “District Commissioner” of the local Twin Tier Pony Club , the local association for the national United States Pony Club .  He continued his support of his daughter Gale’s passion for horses by helping her nearly every day with her horse farm, even into his 90s!  At the stable, he became a “dad and granddad” to many of the families that were there.  He is truly missed by all there.

Hal volunteered as the treasurer for the North Presbyterian Church , his lifelong church.  In addition to being a faithful member of the choir and serving as an elder, he also managed all the financial accounting, taxes and payroll for the church.  He did this for over 25 years.

Hal started volunteering at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in 1992. He did many tasks including assisting patients to their destinations in the hospital, distributing medicines to the nursing staff for the patients, and did accounting work for the Auxiliary, including the thrift shop and the hospital’s gift shop, as well as for the fundraiser events for the Children’s Miracle Network .

Hal received The Jefferson Award in 2014 in recognition of all of his volunteer service to our community.

During his earlier retirement years, he and Donna were active members and officers of the local chapters of the Family Motor Coaches Association , with which they traveled the country with their motorhome.  Dad arranged and hosted a handful of the group’s meetings and camping adventures in various areas of New York State. They also spent several winters in their home in LaBelle, Florida, until 2005.

He continued his volunteer work with the hospital until it became impossible to leave his beloved wife’s side as she was being consumed by dementia. It was his promise to his wife, Donna, that she would never have to leave her home when she became unable to care for herself.  He kept that promise and ceased the majority of his volunteer life so that he could stay by her side, at home until she passed a year ago.  Hal Wolfe was a man of integrity and strength.  He kept his promise to her, his love, and now they are together again, forever.

Memorial services will be planned by the family for a future date, and service details will be updated here when available.