Dr. Luther H. Wolff, Jr.

On Friday December 18, 2020, Dr. Luther Horn (Butch) Wolff, Jr., died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His beloved wife, Karen Hobbs Wolff, was by his side throughout the entire journey with love and care.

Born May 14, 1943, in Roanoke, Virginia, Butch was the third child of Dr. Luther Horn Wolff, Sr. and Mary Will Wolff. He grew up in Columbus, Georgia but spent many summers in Roanoke with his Grandma and Grandpa Giles, whom he loved dearly.

Butch graduated from Columbus High School in 1961, received a B.S. from Emory University in 1965 and the same year married his first wife, Norma Tinnell. Norma and Butch embarked on a great adventure to Guadalajara, Mexico where he attended medical school at La Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and graduated in 1972. They moved to Rochester, Minnesota where Butch completed a General Surgery Residency at the Mayo Clinic. Upon moving back to Columbus, Butch completed his Internship at the Medical Center and subsequently went into medical practice, known as “Wolff Surgical,” with his father and brother, later to be known as “Columbus Surgical Associates.” He enjoyed an illustrious 43-year medical career which included many appointments at St. Francis Hospital: Chief of Staff, Department Head of Surgery, and Medical Director of the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center. He was also Co- Medical Director of the Mercer University Medical School, Columbus Branch, and held numerous other staff and department head positions at both St. Francis and the Medical Center.

On April 4, 1998, Butch married Karen Hobbs--his “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Karen sparked in Butch a happiness and vivaciousness that endurded through the years. They twirled across dance floors, traveled the globe to places like Italy, Peru, the Caribbean, and Chile and made a home in the woods where they welcomed their family and friends. Their independent spirits found a home in each other, and no matter how far or how long Butch wandered in the woods, he always came home to his Karen.

Butch will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind renaissance man. He was a skilled surgeon, farmer, adventurer and outdoorsman. His experiences included hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu with his son Luke, climbing the Swiss Alps with his daughter Jessica, finishing three Boston Marathons, dogsledding in Alaska, floating a souped-up pedal boat down the Chattahoochee to the Gulf of Mexico with his best friends Jimmy Sikes and Butch Cochran, going on medical missions with Karen to Zimbabwe (at age 73!) and moving to Mexico for medical school without knowing a word of Spanish. His far-fetched stories of life in Guadalajara seemed almost too wild to be true. No matter where he traveled, Butch’s favorite place in the world was his farm in Harris County, Georgia. His soul lives on in the pine trees and sunflowers he planted.

He showed a genuine interest in the lives of the people around him and had an ability to make people feel that they mattered. He was a prankster and never missed an opportunity to start some mischief. Butch loved creating memories with his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews all of whom were his greatest joys. His stories, advice, pranks and unwavering love will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Butch is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Courtney Wolff, brother, Dr. William Anderson (Bill) Wolff, wife Nancy, and his sister, Mary Louise Wolff. He is survived by his wife, Karen Hobbs Wolff, son, Luther Horn (Luke) Wolff III, wife Avery, daughter, Jessica Giles Wolff, husband Jeremy Martinez, his brother, Dr. Bruce Giles Wolff, wife Vikki. He is also survived by his first wife, Norma Tinnell Wolff, mother of Luke and Jessica. In addition, eight grandchildren: Lucas Wolff, wife Mary, Levi Wolff, Graham Wolff, Stewart Wolff, Esther Wolff, ZZ Martinez, Valentine Martinez and Louisa Wolff-Martinez. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who relished time with Uncle Butch.

The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Pippas, the staff at the John B. Amos Cancer Center, and Dr. David Nagorney at the Mayo Clinic for the excellent care and compassion shown to Butch and his family during this most difficult time.

In keeping with efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, the family will hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for any donations made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center or the Harris County Humane Society.