May 2, 1922 – May 5, 2013
It is with great sadness that the family of Kelly Wolf announces his passing on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 9:35 a.m. Kelly turned 91 on May 2.
He was born to Mattie (Mitchell) Wolf and Johnston (Buster) Wolf in Lindsey, OK. The family left Oklahoma when Kelly was 12 and moved to the Santa Ynez Valley where Kelly and his sister, Emogene (Wolf) Barrett grew up. He graduated from Santa Ynez Valley High School where he met the love of his life, Olivia Steffensen. They were married for 71 years until her passing in December, 2011.
After high school he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He enlisted in Navy and spent 33 1/2 years traveling the world with Olivia. They both loved the Navy and the life it provided them. After retirement he became the golf pro at Sea and Air Golf Course at NAS North Island in San Diego where he was golf pro for 18 years until he retired from that position. While at Sea and Air he built the second nine holes to make it an 18-hole course.
Kelly was a three-war (World War II, Korean War and Vietnam) veteran and very proud of his service to his country. He served in such places as New Delhi, India, Atsugi, Japan, Honolulu, Hi twice and various other military posts.
He is survived by his daughter Cherri (Wolf) Tompkins, his two grandsons Mark (Suzanne) and Bryan (Christa Stabile) Tompkins. His is also survived by his former son-in-law, Ron Tompkins, Olivia’s sister Eldora Laubly, the last of the eight Steffensen siblings, his beloved brother-in-law Richard Ray and many nieces and nephews from the Steffensen side of the family. He also leaves his three wonderful and attentive caregivers: Rita Simanjuntak, Fernando Simanjuntak and Ester Manuhutu who also took care of Olivia before her passing. Kelly was preceded in death by his wife, Olivia, his parents, his sister and her husband, his two nephews and Olivia’s parents and her six siblings.
Kelly’s services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard, CA which is in the Santa Ynez Valley and very close to Solvang where they made their home for many years.
Kelly was an extraordinary man who was deeply loved by his family and greatly respected by those he served with in the Navy. Farewell Daddy: Fair winds and calm seas for your final voyage. I love you.
O’Connor Mortuary, (949) 581-4300
www.oconnormortuary.com
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