PENROSE WOLF's Obituary
PERRY –
Mr. Penrose Wolf passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 16, 2025, just one day prior to his 100th birthday. He is sure to be celebrating with his beloved wife Sallyann in Heaven. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Perry Methodist Church, preceded by visitation at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Penrose and Sallyann will be interred at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Perry Methodist Church, 1002 Carroll Street, Perry, GA 31069, or St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 371 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109.
Penrose was born in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, on October 17, 1925, the youngest of 8 children. He attended Rockwood High School, where he was the band drum major, graduating in 1943. He enrolled in Pennsylvania State University in the fall of 1943. After D-Day in 1944, he attempted to enlist in the Air Corp, but due to his color blindness, joined the Army instead. He was deployed to K Company, 347th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division arriving in France in December 1944 and fought across France, Belgium, and Germany under the leadership of General George Patton. After the Allied victory in Europe, his Regiment returned home to prepare for deployment to the Pacific Theater. Thankfully, the war in the Pacific ended before he was deployed. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.
Penrose returned to Pennsylvania State University in 1946, earning a Batchelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1948. During his time at Penn State, Penrose met the love of his life, Sallyann Rowe, on a blind date, and they married in December 1949. Penrose and Sallyann started their family while living in Philadelphia, PA, Greensburg, PA, and Greentree, PA . In 1961, Penrose was transferred to Hartford, CT, and the family relocated to Wethersfield, CT, where they resided for forty-six years. In 2007, Penrose and Sallyann moved to Perry, GA, close to their daughter, Penny, and her family and left the cold New England winters behind. Always active in their church, they were members of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wethersfield, CT, and attended Perry Methodist Church since relocating to Perry, GA.
Penrose's 55-year career began in 1950 with The Hartford Insurance Group working in Bond and Surety Claims rising to become an Officer of the company. He enrolled in night school at the University of Connecticut’s School of Law in 1964, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1967. In 1985, after thirty-five years with The Hartford, Penrose founded the law firm of Wolf, Horowitz, and Thayer where he practiced fidelity and surety law until the age of 80.
Penrose always enjoyed serving his church, community, and profession, actively participating in many committees, organizations, and boards, using his God-given skills to serve others. He served numerous terms on the Church Council of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and served on committees for the New England Synod of the Lutheran Church in America. He was active in the American Bar Association, was an active member of their Fidelity and Surety Law Committee, and was an editor and contributor to the ABA’s “Construction Lawyer” journal. He served on many community boards and oversight committees in Wethersfield and in Perry. He provided pro-bono legal services to those in need well into his 80’s. His military service to our Great Nation ended in 1946, but his service to this Country never did. He was active in VFW Post 6126 in Perry for many years, where he also served as their Judge Advocate for several years.
Penrose was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Lenora Wolf; his loving and devoted wife of seventy-four years, Sallyann Wolf; a daughter, Karol W. Niederfringer; a granddaughter, Shawn Keifer; his bothers, Irvin Wolf and Robert Wolf; his sister, Sally Hill; and four infant siblings.
Left to cherish the memories they made with Penrose are his daughter, Penny Byrd of Perry; his son, Penrose R. Wolf (Kristin) of Chardon, Ohio; his son-in-law, Alan Niederfringer (Patty) of Avon, Connecticut; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband and father, a man dedicated to his broader family, his church, his profession, and his community, and an avid reader. He was a man of questions. He embodied a spirit of resilience, intellectual curiosity, and lifelong learning. He will be dearly missed.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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