Reverend Preston Eugene Wolfley
August 09, 2010
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Service Details
Reverend Preston Eugene Wolfley, 74, passed away at his home on Monday, August 9, 2010. He was born to Robert and Sally (Doughtie) Wolfley on April 14, 1936 in Gatesville, NC and graduated from Newport News High School in 1954 and Malone College in 1958.
Reverend Wolfley pastored many churches beginning in 1958 to 1963 at Bangor Friends Church in Bangor, IA; Seaside Friends Church in Hector’s River, Jamaica, WI from 1963-66; First Friends Church in Des Moines from 1966-73; First Church of the Open Bible in Ottumwa, IA from 1973-75; Bethany Open Bible Church in Des Moines from 1975-80; Missionary Evangelist traveling to many countries from 1980-91; Riverside Friends Church in Mason City, IA from 1991-98; Christian Services International Mission House Host in Highgate, Jamaica from 1998-2001; and Worthington Friends Church in Kingston, Jamaica from 2001-2007. Beginning in 1962, for 48 years, he continually returned to Jamaica for ministry. Reverend Wolfley retired in 2007 due to ill health.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Frances; daughters, Kimberly (Charles) Davis, Christine (Robert) Breckenridge, and Sheila (Sandra Warne) Wolfley; grandchildren, Christine Layne Davis, Ryanne Elaine Breckenridge, Robert Eugene Breckenridge III, Jasmine Jean Walk; great-grandchildren, Caleb and Alexander Hamby and Preston Lee Breckenridge. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Robert L. Wolfley, Jr. and William A. Wolfley.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends for Worthington Friends Church of Kingston, Jamaica, P.O. Box 657, Oskaloosa, IA 52577.
Online condolences may be made at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Skip&Bert Stevens
08/19/2010
Pastor Wolfley was our Pastor at Open Bible Church(in Ottumwa Iowa)
what a great man of God, we love all of you our prayers are with you in your loss.
Skip and Bert Stevens
Ted Gillum
08/17/2010
Dearest Mom,
My deepest sympathy for this loss for you, the family and the greater family of God. I prayed for you all last week unawares of these conditions. What joyous celebration there is in the hearts of so many who had Dad Wolfley as their spiritual father. His dedication, devotion and gracious love reached so many across the miles. He is always loved and remembered.
I will never forget him telling me about the night I was saved, August 5, 1979 at old Bethany when he prayed for me. He told me he thought I was faking it. Then he said, "Sometimes I feel like getting some of these foxhole salvation people saved and then shooting them in the head to make sure they make it." He loved me, that I know very well. He believed in me, that I can't deny. He cared for me, and that he never stopped. This will be the testimony of so many of which I am just one.
Grateful to you both so very much.
All my love and repect,
Your Spiritual Son,
Ted
Mickey Marcella, NNHS Class of 1954
08/17/2010
Dear Mrs. Wolfley and Family,
I want to take this time to tell you what a nice person Gene was.
We really enjoyed him when he came back to our 40th reunion. He was talking about his great grandchildren. We all looked at him thinking he was not old enough to have great grandchildren. He came back with "All my grandchildren are great!" The class got a big chuckle out of that.
He was definitely an excellent preacher, a good classmate, and our love goes to you and your family at this time. May God bless you.
Much love, Mickey and Carol Marcella.
Ruth and Don Corbin
08/16/2010
Dear Fran,
So glad we got to see you both two years ago at Malone University. The years have come and gone and we have lost many of our classmates. We are so very sorry about Gene's passing and know it will be a great loss for you and your family! But God has been faithful to you through the years and what a comfort to know He will be especially close to you at this time. What great memories we have of our years spent in Cleveland and then in Canton! Then too, we have memories of getting together with your family in Iowa!
May God richly bless you and your family at this tme and always!
Your Molone friends,
Ruth and Don Corbin
Ken Crooks for the Crooks Family
08/15/2010
The Wolfley family follows a long line of Quaker Missionaries that gave of their time, talent, and expertise to the Seaside Friends Church and to Happy Grove. The head stones on the hillside beside the church tell the story of committed Quakers who came to the island and gave their all for the chruch and the school. The Wolfleys follow such names as Florence May Smith, Wendell and Fay Farr and many others whoses contributions will live on in the lives of those they touched.
Terri Voegtlin Kane
08/15/2010
Kim and Chris and family,
So sorry to read of your loss. My thoughts and sympathy to you.
Nella Hall Cole
08/15/2010
Dear Frances,
I would like to extend to you and your family my heartfelt sympathy in the passing of Mr Wolfley. As a past student of Happy Grove who lived nearby, I will always remember those Sunday evenings at the Mission Home, they were special. He contributed so much of himself to Happy Grove and we will be forever grateful. God bless you and your family and may he rest forever in eternal peace.
Rhonda (Rupe) Kurtz
08/15/2010
Dear Fran and all of the family, I am truely saddened about the loss of Eugene to all of us left here to struggle with-out him. But, on the other hand, I am very happy for him that he has gone on to where he has been leading others all these years. God blessed First Friends Church when he called Eugene to pastor there. I know that I was blessed in knowing him. I only wish that I would have had the chance to play my accordian for him one more time and watch him smile. I know that each time I do play now, I will remember him smiling as if I were a concert player. All the encouragement that he gave every person he ever came into contact with and touched in some way, will continue as each of us tell our friends & family for generations to come about the most wonderful pastor/friend/counselor that by the grace of GOD, entered my life. I will miss him. May God bless each of you and keep you, and give you strength as we continue to be "HAPPY ON THE WAY"
Eric Williams
08/14/2010
Dear Frances,heartfelt condolences from myself and family on Eugene's passing.I can clearly remember in 1963 when you and Gene entered our lives at Happy Grove.We thought your camera that developed pictures instantly was great,but that was just the beginning.Your love and dedication to our school was shown with a zeal and determination words cannot describe.Our many trips to perform at different churches and his stirring sermons was just a labor of love. We are all better off for it. The fact that he is now in a better place is reassuring. The thought that we will all meet again and pick up where we left off is comforting and good reason to continue his legacy.I know Gene is arranging, planning and organising for our next reunion. You and your family are in our prayers,and may God grant you the strength through these difficult days.
Monica Bigby-Milloy
08/14/2010
Hi Fran
My sincere condolence to the entire family. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
Errol Johnson
08/14/2010
Our lives are made up of experiences and influences that serve to mold and shape us. Eugene Wolfley was one such influence who as minister at Seaside/Happy Grove, along with Frances, showed love and interest that infused those years of my youth with a further sense of worth and belonging.
By returning to Jamaica in later years he showed dedication and a missionary spirit that made him a giant in the sight of those he served in the name of our Savior.
My sincere condolence to Frances and the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. May the memories of his life comfort you. May his example of agape love to others continue to make you proud that you are a part of him.
My gracious thanks to you for sharing him with others so that his influence has touched generations far beyond your homestead.
May God continue to bless your lives and and comfort you.
Errol Johnson (Happy Grove, 1959-1963)
FREDDY JACOBS
08/14/2010
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD.
Marzy Chance
08/12/2010
The Happy Grove High School Alumni New York Chapter Inc members and friends express our deepest sympathy to your family on the loss of our beloved pastor and friend. He had an affection for our alma mater, Happy Grove High School, Seaside, Jamaica and will be missed by us all.
" Gone but not Forgotten. He is gone to see the king"
God be with all of you.
Marzy Chance
President
Happy Grove High School Alumni Association, New York Chapter Inc.
4414 Edson Ave, Bronx NY 10466 718 798 8818
David and Shauna Goode
08/12/2010
Dear Fran and family,
We are saddened by the loss of our dear fellow missionary to Jamaica, Pastor Eugene. We are encouraged to know that he is in the presence of God forever. We will never forget the incredible times we shared in Jamaica. We are praying for you and the family in these days. God bless you all.
Dave and Shauna Goode and family
Lorra Sappenfield
08/11/2010
I wish I could have heard him sing one more time...