Allen Wolf

Albert Allen Wolf, 73, of Charlotte, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, as a result of a brain tumor. He was the husband of Alston Osgood Wolf and had retired in 1991 as a physics professor at Davidson College.

The family will receive visitors Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Hankins & Whittington, 1111 E. Boulevard, in Charlotte. A memorial service is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m., at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the parlor. Hankins & Whittington is handling arrangements.

Mr. Wolf leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Alston Osgood Wolf, and four children, Katherine Flinn Wolf Roche (Kathy) and husband Patrick, Albert Allen Wolf Jr. (Bert) and wife Karen, Geneva Wolf Bosak (Genny) and husband John, and Cary Anne Melton (Cary Anne) and husband Joe; his two stepchildren Mary Alston Kirk and Chisolm Frost Woodson; 10 grandchildren, William Patrick Roche, Anna Katherine Roche, Matthew Cary Roche, Monroe Anita Wolf, Elise Welty Wolf, Paul Edwin Wolf, Stephanie Anne Bosak, Colleen Elise Bosak, Claire Elizabeth Melton and Jenna Hamrick Melton; two step-grandsons Nathanial Oliver Smith & William McKay Smith; one sister, Anita Wolf Plummer and husband James; and two brothers, Paul Frederick Wolf and wife Joyce, and Sherrill Tippit Wolf and wife Linda.

He is also survived by his first wife, Cary Wolf Johnston of Davidson.

Allen was born in Nashville, Tenn., on Labor Day, Sept. 2, 1935, to the late Joseph Frederick Wolf and Geneva Tippit Wolf. He attended Peabody University in Nashville for one year before transferring to Vanderbilt University and graduating in 1958 with a B.S. in physics, cum laude. He earned his master’s degree there in 1960. After a few years in the workforce, he attended Georgia Tech’s graduate school and received his Ph.D. in physics in 1966.

He accepted a teaching position at Davidson College that same year, became chair of the physics department in 1982, and retired in 1991. He then started his own business, Computer Tutor, and also worked as a consultant for the Electric Power Research Institute, in Charlotte.

Allen was known for his quick, dry wit and his love of wordplay. He regularly completed the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles (in ink) in record time. He was masterful with young children, who appreciated his ready smiles and willingness to be silly. He could find a song to match or contrast with any mood or moment.

He was always open to new adventures and despite the fact that he had no horsemanship experience until his mid-40s, he became an accomplished equestrian and Master of Foxhounds for Mecklenburg Hounds in the late 1980s. He developed his bridge game over many years, competing with his wife in bridge tournaments at all levels reaching the rank of Life Master.

He and Alston cheered on the Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte Sting and Charlotte Bobcats for many seasons. Allen and Alston enjoyed the arts and were patrons of many local arts and theater organizations. Allen also especially enjoyed traveling with Alston on the grand steamboats of the Mississippi and surrounding rivers for over 19 years, skiing at Sugar Mountain, and sailing his small boat on Lake Norman.

He had a natural curiosity about the world around him, and was always well-versed in the latest scientific discoveries or international events, thanks to his avid reading of The Economist and Nature magazines, as well as The New York Times.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main St. The family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 14, from 6-8 pm, at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 E. Boulevard, Charlotte.

The family requests that you add your comments to the memory book which can be found on-line at Hankins & Whittington’s website, hankinsandwhittington.com. A large thank you to Amanda Powell’s company, “Hand on Hand Care” for the kind help they provided, as well as to Presbyterian Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. A. Allen Wolf Fund, Davidson College, P.O. Box 7174, Davidson, NC 28035-7174 or Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 33549, Charlotte, NC 28233-3549.

Comments Disabled To "Deaths: Albert Allen Wolf, 73; retired physics prof."

#1 Comment By Paul Ward On November 11, 2008 @ 6:33 pm