Obituary of Gerald Wolfe

WOLFE, Gerald Sanford, Sgt. (Ret'd) 1917 - 2012 Born March 14, 1917 in Portage LaPraire, Manitoba, to the late Earl and Gertrude (nee Threatekill); Gerry passed away suddenly, after a brief illness, at St. Mary's General Hospital on October 3, 2012, at the age of 95. Beloved husband of the late Marjorie Rose Wolfe (nee Wilson, 2010); dear father to Debbie (Brian) Gabriel, the late Gary Wolfe (1974) and brother to Evelyn (Logan) Ritchie. Predeceased by his brother Raymond Wolfe. Gerry served with the R.C.A.F. 405 Pathfinder Squadron from 1940-1945, where he was stationed in England, maintaining the Lancaster Bombers and received the King George VI award for distinguished service. On February 13, 1943, he met his future wife, the love of his life, Marjorie. In May 1945, he became employed with Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) in Dorval, Quebec, where they were flying across the Atlantic carrying military mail and V.I.P.'s to England. When this operation ceased, Gerry carried on working with the airline's domestic service. In 1946, he was promoted to a maintenance instructor position to train pilots, air engineers and mechanics on the newly acquired aircraft. In 1948, he qualified for his air engineer's license from Transport Canada and for the last 20 years of his career at Air Canada he held the position of Manager of Maintenance Technical Training for the Air Canada system. In 1982, Gerry retired after 37 years. After his retirement, he was employed over a period of three years with Transport Canada and assigned to a program to update the training programs and testing of candidates for the Transport Canada Air Engineer's License to sign airworthiness of aircraft before flight. This license later remained as the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME). It was during this time that Gerry and Mr. Gordon Dupont, an AME from the West Coast of Canada, jointly produced a report which is known today as the Wolfe/Dupont report, some 34 recommendations for Transport Canada in regards to the AME license. Over a period of time, Transport Canada adopted 28 of these recommendations. Gerry's life of dedication to the aviation maintenance industry has led to many improvements of the regulations and policies governing those holding Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licenses and has earned him a place in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Hall of Fame in 2004. Friends are invited to share their memories of Gerry with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Forest Hill United Church, 121 Westmount Road East, Kitchener on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 1 p.m. with Rev. Mary Beer officiating. A reception to follow. Private family interment will take place at a later date. Condolences for the family and donations to the Alzheimer Society or MS Society may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519- 745-8445.