Saltville, Va.

Edward Earl Wolfe, age 85, passed away September 26, 2022 at his home. "Eddie" was born February 25, 1937 in Bristol, Va. to Earl J. Wolfe and Beulah Lucille Wall, Vermilion, Wolfe, Oakes.

He grew up in North Holston, attending elementary school there, then on to graduate from Rich Valley High School, completed a post graduate course at the old R.B. Worthy High School in Saltville, completed a drafting course at Abingdon Trade School, attended Emory & Henry College and attended language school while in the Air Force. Ed worked at everything from picking apples, barbering in the Saltville and Martinsville areas, and hiring and payroll when the Hydrazine plant was being built in Saltville. He began his career in furniture manufacturing as an off bearer at minimum wage and left as plant manager after 27 years. He worked at Orleans Furniture Co. in Mississippi for 6 years as vice president of manufacturing and retired at Virginia House Furniture in Atkins in 1998 after returning to his beloved North Holston. During these years, he reproduced vintage corvette parts and restored several corvettes, chevelles, and Pontiac GTO's owning over a hundred cars in his lifetime. His last jobs were gathering the census in 2010 and restoring his 30th GTO. He also enjoyed playing golf, shooting pool, and going on evening rides in his convertible. He was a member of the Smyth County Moose Lodge and a member of SCV and he was a volunteer at Smyth County Tourism. He gave speeches at the Museum of Middle Appalachians and was an avid history buff.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 half-brothers, Earl Wolfe, Jr. and James Wall Vermillion; three step brothers, Willis, Charles, and Elmer Oakes; 2 half-sisters, Carolyn Doster, and Kitty Covington; and one grandson, Evan Osborne.

Left to treasure his memories are his girlfriend, Betty Vance of Castlewood, Va.; 4 children, daughter, Tammy Moore (Tommy); son, Wade Wolfe (Lynn) of Martinsville, Va., daughter Missy Purdy of Bassett, Va. and son, Andy Wolfe (Donna) of North Myrtle Beach, SC; 7 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; half-brothers, Charles Vermillion of Granite Bay, CA, and William Oakes of Danville, Va.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Henderson Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 prior to the service. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022 at Rose Lawn Burial Park in Martinsville, Va.

Those wishing to express sympathy may do so online by visiting www.drhendersonfuneralhome.com. The D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Edward Earl Wolfe.