Lawrence Robert “Larry” “Little Fooze” Wolfe, 77
Lawrence Robert “Larry” “Little Fooze” Wolfe, age 77, Racine, Ohio went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 19 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, where he passed away peacefully after an extended illness with his family at his side .
Larry was born November 28, 1936 in Racine, Ohio, the son of Hilton Neigler Wolfe, Sr. and Ruth Salser Wolfe, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by a brother Hilton Wolfe, Jr. (Big Fooze); and a sister-in-law Leda Mae Kraeutter.
Larry “Little Fooze” Wolfe was a 1954 graduate of Racine High School. Larry was a teacher and friend to many students and was married to wife, Dolly Wolfe. Together they have over 60 years of teaching experience, most of which came in the Southern Local School District.
Wolfe was the principal for many years at the Portland and Syracuse Elementary Schools, where his teaching staff, students, and parents were a community “family”. Wolfe taught both fifth and sixth grades in one classroom while also serving as principal at the school. Overall, Wolfe taught over 32 years. Recently he was elected to the Southern Local School District Hall of Fame.
Wolfe was one of the top ten scorers in Southern basketball history with over 1,000 points, while also enjoying a fantastic baseball career at Racine High School. Known for his crafty left-handed pitching, Wolfe pitched 10 varsity no-hitters, and even after breaking his pitching arm pitched and won a game or two pitching right-handed. His junior and senior years, he was voted second and third team All-Ohio, respectively, in boy’s basketball.
After graduating from high school, Wolfe was drafted into the Major Leagues by the Kansas City Athletics, playing in the Minor leagues at Savannah, Georgia and Welsh, West Virginia. Wolfe enjoyed success in the minors, not only as a pitcher but as a hitter, but found his heart was really helping people and being close to home.
He returned for a time to work at the Sugar Run Feed Mill before going to Rio Grande College to seek a degree in education. He was on the junior varsity basketball team at Rio Grande during the Bevo Francis years. After two years URG, he earned a Cadet teaching certificate and began his teaching career at Pomeroy before coming back to Racine, and Syracuse, where he also was a teacher and principal.
He was noted for “making it fun” for the students to learn and treated students fairly. He coached reserve and Jr. High basketball, was a varsity baseball coach and a varsity girls basketball coach. He coached biddy league basketball at Syracuse and Racine and was also a Scout Leader and Little League baseball coach. He was 42-2 as Jr. High Girls’ basketball coach at Southern. His Meigs’ Local Freshman basketball team won the coveted SEOAL championship in the mid 1960’s.
Larry was a former fireman and member of the Racine Emergency squad, while serving on Racine Village Council for 16 years. He was also on the Racine Village Water Board and voted Meigs’ County Jaycees “Man of the Year”.
He was a share-cropper at the Jim Adams Farms, where he employed many students to help them with income for school clothing and other necessities. Additionally, he once had one of the state’s largest arrowhead collections, loved to collect arrowheads and continued his love for Bluegrass Music and auto racing, especially the sprint cars at Eldora Speedway and many local speedways. He has been described as a “great teacher and community leader.”
Besides his service to the Village he was on the entertainment committee, Fall Festival Committee, and helped promote Bluegrass Music in the area; and for a time was a champion bowler.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years Dolores “Dolly” Kraeuter Wolfe, who he married August 24, 1960. He is survived by a brother Duane Wolfe of Racine; Aunt Grace Agre, Morris Plains, New Jersey, and sister-in-law Roberta (Dale) Maidens of Syracuse, Ohio. He is also survived by a son Kent Duane (Kim) Wolfe of Racine; and a daughter, Laren Mae (Clayton) Shain of Racine; grandson Wesley (Ashley) Riffle, Racine; granddaughter, Whitney (Dave) Camp, Racine; and Ryan (Megan) Wolfe, Kort (Morgan) Wolfe, Trevor Wolfe, Tara Wolfe; and great-granddaughter Nevaeh Camp. Also surviving are step-grandchildren, Tanner Roush, Sydney Roush, Ivy McClain; Blake Shain and Michelle Camp. He is also survived by special friend Chris Wolfe.
He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make donations in the name of Larry Wolfe to the Southern Athletic Department with proceeds designated to varsity baseball and Girls’ basketball, the team varsity sports he coached at Southern.
Pallbearers are Wes Riffle, Ryan Wolfe, Kort Wolfe, Scott Wolfe, Bryan Wolfe, Clayton Shain, Dave Camp, and Chris Wolfe.
Funeral Services will be held at Anderson-McDaniel Funeral Home in Racine. Officiating will be Pastor Bill Marshall. The family wanted him close to 2 of his favorite hangouts– The Racine Barbershop and the Racine Diner Restaurant. Viewing hours will be Tuesday 2-4 and 7 -9. The Funeral will be Wednesday at 2. Burial will follow at the Letart Cemetery.
