Irene (Jeffries) Wolfe Obituary
~ To know her was to be loved by her ~
Irene Jeffries Wolfe, 96 years old, of Myrtle Beach, SC, gained her angel wings early Monday morning, January 29, 2024, after passing away quietly in her home.
Irene was born on September 4, 1927 to the late Cecil W. and Iva P. Tolliver Jeffries, in Frenchton, West Virginia. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom predecease her: Earl, Beatrice “Bea”, Catharine “Kate”, Burl, and Wilbert “Web”; two younger siblings, Madeline, and Harry, died in infancy.
Irene graduated from Buckhannon Upshur High School in 1947. After graduation, she reconnected with Blair Wolfe, a childhood friend of her brother’s, at a party. In Irene’s words, “It was love at first sight. His charm and personality won me over. Although I had many boyfriends before him, there was never anyone like him. He was the love of my life.” They married 4 months after their first date, on 2 May 1947. Irene and Blair went on to have two children, Julia and Gary, and raised their family in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
In 1985, after Irene retired from First Community Bank in Buckhannon, WV, where she served as a bank teller for twenty years, she and Blair moved to Surfside Beach, SC to be with their children and their families. They resided at Ocean Lakes Family Campground where they embraced retirement by becoming active members of their community, making friends, and spending time with family. Irene had no intentions of working but, a true people person who liked being busy, was talked into applying to the Ocean Lakes Campground Store by her neighbor. She went on to work for Ocean Lakes for almost twenty years and loved sharing anecdotes about the people she met: connecting with people brought her joy. She and Blair joined the Seagate Village community in Myrtle Beach, SC, in 2004.
Irene loved spending time with her family. She and Blair could often be found playing putt-putt or bingo with friends, or sitting on the front porch drinking coffee. She enjoyed water aerobics, singing karaoke, playing the keyboard, doing word puzzles, and listening to music. Although she did not have a church “home”, she loved the Lord, and had an unwavering, strong faith in God.
Irene embodied the best of qualities: compassion, a strength of spirit and character, optimism, kindness and unending generosity that was demonstrated in her care for her family and friends. She wanted everyone around her to feel good – in body and spirit – and was quick to help those in need. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sibling, grandmother, and great-grandmother and valued time spent with family. She was a private person who preferred to deal with situations on her own, to avoid adding to someone else’s burdens. She loved to have fun and appreciated silliness and humor; she would often comment on things that “tickled” her: a person she met that day, a conversation she had, or something she saw at work, out the window or on TV. She had a beautiful smile that she was quick to share with anyone.
Irene joins her husband, Blair, who passed away in 2011, their daughter, Julia, and her parents and siblings in Heaven. She is survived by her son, Gary, and his wife, Donna, of Myrtle Beach; her two grandchildren, Amy Wolfe of Lexington, KY, and Kim (Corey) Aycock of Aiken, SC; her great-granddaughter, Ainslee Aycock of Aiken, SC; several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends – all of whom she adored. In Irene’s words, “Blair left me with a wonderful son, and memories of a wonderful daughter who we lost to breast cancer at the age of 39. He also left me with two wonderful granddaughters, Amy and Kimberly, and a great-granddaughter, Ainslee. I also have a wonderful daughter-in-law, Donna, who seems like my own daughter. I love them all very much. They have been a great comfort to me, and I thank God for all of this.”
Irene will be missed dearly, and her family is grateful for the time they spent together. Her family will always feel her presence in their hearts and carry her lessons and memories with them.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
