Obituary of Herbert Sampson Wolf
Herbert Sampson Wolf (“Herb”), devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and veteran from the Greatest Generation, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025, at the age of 98.
Herb was born on May 11, 1927, in Montclair, New Jersey, to Herbert and Signe (Gronsford) Wolf and grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after his 18 th birthday and served as a member of the 53 rd Naval Construction Battalion (the “Seabees”) in the Marshall Islands during World War II. After receiving his honorable discharge following the war, he studied business administration at Upsala College in New Jersey and graduated in 1950.
Herb married Elizabeth (“Betty”) Moulton in 1950 and remained devoted to her for the next 75 years. They moved to Denville, New Jersey, in 1952, where they raised their two sons and remained until 2023, when they relocated to Alpharetta, Georgia, to be close to family. Herb and Betty were members of the Denville Community Methodist Church.
Herb worked for a number of companies through the years, most notably serving on the design team for the X-15 rocket plane with Reaction Motors and working as a design draftsman with Foster Wheeler Corporation until he retired in 1992.
He was a proud Freemason and member of Acacia Lodge No. 20 and Jephthah Lodge No. 233 of Free & Accepted Masons. He achieved the rank of Master Mason, the highest rank within this foundational system.
An avid golfer, Herb was a member at Mt. Tabor Golf Club and Picatinny Golf Club. One of his many claims to fame was “shooting his age” at both 79 and 82 on the Mt. Tabor golf course, where he was also a senior club champion.
Always one to stay busy, much of Herb’s retirement was spent in his basement workshop. He was an exceptionally talented woodworker and especially enjoyed creating special pieces for his family and friends, including custom-tailored golf clubs.
As much as Herb enjoyed golf and woodworking, his most cherished role was that of “Pop-Pop” to his four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was a gentle and loving grandfather and will be dearly missed by his family.
Herbie, as he was affectionately called by those who loved him, is survived by his wife Betty of 75 years; two sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Peggy Wolf of Cumming, Georgia, and Gary and Patti Wolf of Millsboro, Delaware; four grandchildren and their spouses, Ryan and Melissa Wolf of Vaughn, Washington, Nolan and Eva Wolf of Greenville, South Carolina, Kaitlin and Ben Bishop of New Zealand, and Megan and Chris DiFiore of Atlanta, Georgia; and nine great-grandchildren, Reid, Grant, and Georgia Wolf of Vaughn, Gwen and Elodie Bishop of New Zealand, Thomas and Mary Wolf of Greenville, and Warren and Cameron DiFiore of Atlanta.
