William Lawrence Wolfe Jr.

William L. Wolfe Jr., 84, passed away November 3, 2021. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late William L. Wolfe Sr. and Caroline Wolfe. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Auriza (Auri) Ruela; Father of Kelly Shaw (Howard) and William L. Wolfe III (Carrie). The cherished stepfather of Ralph E. Fontaine and Auriza J. Kelley (Robert) whom he called his “Bonus Kids”. He was the grandfather of 9.

Bill was a proud graduate of LaSalle Academy and from the University of Notre Dame. He loved Notre Dame’s football games and diligently watched them on Saturday afternoons. The only caveat was that if he started screaming at the TV because ND was losing he had to sit outside and watch through the window.

He went to work for the State of Rhode Island’s Dept. of Labor and Training’s Information Processing Division for 34+ years. He retired as the Chief of Employment and Training Operations. In his retirement, he became a school bus driver for First Student working in Lincoln and then in East Greenwich.

He loved to travel in the U.S. and especially abroad. He travelled to China and cruised on the Yangtze River to the 3 Gorges Dam where he toured the inner workings of the dam. He especially loved Austria, Italy and Portugal returning to those countries several times. His fun day trip from Portugal was to Gibraltar where there was a wait to allow a plane to land because the main road crossed part of the airstrip. Bill always wanted to return to Gibraltar to attend a concert in the concert hall buried deep within the Rock just for the acoustics. Another great trip that he loved was driving to Chicago to watch his step-grandson graduate from the Navy’s computer technical training. Bill loved that Ethan thought so highly of him as to invite him. Ethan surprised Bill by ensuring that he received a Navy commendation for supporting Ethan in his Navy service.

One of the best parts of that Chicago trip, after Ethan’s ceremony, was that we followed the Mississippi and did all the touristy things, like the Arch, Branson, Sam Walton’s museum, Memphis, the Space Museum, etc. accompanied by Bill’s sidekick, Pearl for three weeks. He loved and spoiled her rotten with treats. No one was allowed to get mad or yell at her. Bill doted on her and said that she was the best dog ever. He even got a ticket for not picking up after her in Beaufort, S.C. because he would have to leave her alone while he cleaned up. He paid the ticket. Pearl was his baby.

If there was one thing that Bill loved to do it was to go to a party or out to dinner. He always said that his ‘Bonus’ kids threw the best parties especially boat parties because he got the chance to take the helm of his stepson’s boat and cruise around the bay or fish. He also loved to go to jazz music venues where he knew many of the jazz players even those in The Jazz Club in Hilton Head. Bill loved to tell stories of his friends and the antics they pulled in his younger days. Those were the days of legends.

Bill also loved to go to restaurants that had “Buck a Shuck” clams. A dozen or two was a meal and with a dessert to follow was a treat. If he was asked what he wanted to eat, it was always pasta. He didn’t care what shape it was. He would eat it 24/7.

He was a well-respected and a beloved friend to many. Friday nights would find him at the Twin Oaks front bar with his old buddies where they would discuss the world’s problems and then solve them the next day at the Post in Cranston. If anyone was in need he would be there for them. He cared deeply about his buddies and mourned the loss of any of them as they all got older or became ill.

Bill was proud of his two children. He worked hard to provide a comfortable life with perks for them sometimes working to two jobs to do so. From ski trips to a beach house to college with no loans and study abroad, he felt it was his responsibility to give them the very best that he could give and he did so.

Bill was a two time cancer survivor. He always said that he was living on borrowed time. Bill lived the good life and he deserved it. He really enjoyed his life and he had great memories.

I would like to thank Beacon Hospice for their great care and service. The nurses and doctors that cared for Bill, especially Dr. Herman Ayvazyan for all the years of care he provided. Most of all, a huge thank you to his step-daughter, Auriza, for the time and care she gave him this past year even if he didn’t want it sometimes. She brooked no back talk from him. He knew she meant business when she showed up. A big thank you to his step-granddaughters, Meghan and Mallory Kelley for the loving care and support they gave him in his final days. He always did love that they spoiled him rotten.

For those of us that he left behind, we will always mourn the loss of his presence and his deep love in our lives. He was loving, kind and caring to those that loved him. Bill was a good man who was cherished and loved.

Funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to LaSalle Academy in Providence, RI, https://www.lasalle-academy.org.