Wilbur F Rolfes

Wilbur Francis Rolfes, of Bright, Indiana formerly of Mt. Washington and Delhi, passed away at his daughter’s home at the young age of 103.  He was born on September 16, 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio to William Edward Rolfes and Emma Ruf Rolfes.  His father died when Wilbur was still an infant so he lived with his grandparents on Calhoun St. in the Clifton area of Cincinnati.  He had one brother, Paul Rolfes Sr., and one half sister, Audrey Zorn Hudepohl and a step brother, August Zorn. He attended St. Aloysius Boarding School and then St. Andrews Grade School in Cincinnati. He graduated from Roger Bacon High School in 1936 and then attended Electrical School. He married Christine Green Rolfes in 1937. He worked at American Bakeries until he was drafted into the U.S. Army on December 14, 1942 at Ft. Thomas, KY. While he served his country he was trained as a medic and surgical technician to the Medical Detachment, 394th Infantry of the 99th Infantry at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi. In August 1943 he completed maneuvers in Louisiana and then went to Camp Maxi, Texas and left there September 29, 1943 and arrived in the European Theater in October 1943. Wilbur was wounded in action in Belgium at the Battle of the Bulge on January 13, 1944 while attending to fellow wounded soldiers and was shot in the hand by enemy fire and lost a finger. He was discharged at Gardiner General Hospital in Chicago, IL on October 10, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign (EAME) Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Ruptured Duck (Honorable Discharge) pin. Wilbur’s rank was Technician Fourth Grade. After his service in the US Army he went back to work at American Bakeries and when they closed he started working for P.G Products, which purchased the building from American Bakeries.  He worked part-time until they moved their business to Mosteller Road and he officially retired when he was 90.  Wilbur led a long life and he always enjoyed fixing things.  He was so patient and easy going and could handle anything life through at him.  He was an avid bowler and occasionally like to play a round of golf.  But his true joy in life was his family.

He will be dearly missed by his daughter: Eva Rolfes Roll; favorite son-in-law: Mark Roll; cherished grandchildren: Christina Marie Roll, Jonathan Zachary (Christina Rose) Roll and Jacob Mark Roll; and two great grandchildren: Aliza Rose Roll and Cohen Vincent Roll.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his wife: Laura Hubbard Rolfes; first wife: Christine (nee Green) Rolfes; parents: William Edward Rolfes and Emma Ruf Rolfes Zorn: Brother: Paul Rolfes; half-sister: Audrey Zorn Hudepohl; stepbrother: August Zorn.

Visitation will be at St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, 23670 Salt Fork Road, Lawrenceburg, IN, 47025 on Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 10 am until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM.  Military Honors will follow at the Church with the Harrison Honor Guard and the US ARMY.  Burial will take place following at Graceland Memorial Park, 5989 Deerfield Road, Milford, OH 45150, at 1:30 PM.  We will meet at the gate and process into the cemetery for burial.

Memorials are requested to Disabled American Veterans or St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.  A funeral home representative will be present to help with memorials.

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