Wolfe

Gary Allen Wolfe, 82, of Johnson City, Tenn., formerly of Butler, peacefully passed away in Tennessee on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren during his last days.

Born Jan. 24, 1944, in Butler, Gary was a son of the late Clarence and Orline Wolfe. He was the fourth of five children, with three older brothers and one younger sister.

Gary grew up in Butler and attended Butler High School, where he met his wife, Betty Schnur Wolfe, in German class. He studied civil engineering at Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1965.

After he married Betty in 1966, they made a home together in Beaver, Pa., where they lived for many years and raised their three children.

Gary had a long and dedicated career in civil engineering, working on many interesting projects throughout the Pittsburgh area and later in other parts of the country. One of his first jobs was to help build Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania.

Later, he greatly enjoyed traveling to Point Barrow, Alaska, where he designed water and sewer systems to serve the Native American community. After moving to northern Virginia in 1985, he continued his engineering career until his retirement in 2004. His primary love in civil engineering was water projects; he couldn’t get enough of watching water in motion.

Throughout his life, Gary enthusiastically pursued all manner of home projects, from initial design and construction, to bricklaying, building decks and sheds, planting trees and landscaping the yard.

He enjoyed singing in church choirs for many years in Pennsylvania, Virginia and, finally, in Tennessee, where he and Betty settled after retirement to be close to their grandchildren.

He loved cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football teams, frequently listening to games while working on the house or in the yard.

He loved the outdoors, whether biking or running to visit Betty in the early years, or camping, canoeing and teaching the kids to ice skate and ski. In later years, he took up hiking with family, especially along lakes and streams where he could watch and listen to the water.

Gary lived a long and productive life and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Betty L. Schnur Wolfe; his children, Paula S. Cahill (Wes McConnell), Marnie R. McGaughy (Malcolm) and Ted M. Wolfe (Lisa); eight grandchildren, Theresa Cahill (Jay Velasco), Samantha Barbour (Owen), Allison Cahill, Jamie Cahill, Aidan McGaughy, Isla McGaughy, Dawson Wolfe and Mia Wolfe; and his great-grandson, Colin Barbour.

He is also survived by his sister, Carol Wolfe Blaine; and his in-laws, Carole Williams Wolfe, Sister Nancy Schnur, CDP, Robert Schnur (Patricia), Rita Thompson (Robert), Thomas Schnur (Deborah) and Mary Ellen Rodgers (Richard); as well as extended family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert Wolfe, Lavern Wolfe and Donald Wolfe; and his in-laws, Lois Ann Walsh, and her husband, Douglas.

Gary was a member of St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Kingsport, Tenn., where a funeral Mass was celebrated on Sept. 8, 2026.

WOLFE — Services and burial in Butler were private for Gary Allen Wolfe, who died Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

Local arrangements were entrusted to the care of MARTIN FUNERAL HOME SOUTH SIDE, 429 Center Ave., Butler.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.