Shirley Ruth Wolf Obituary (2025)

Shirley Ruth Wolf passed away on May 15th, with family and her best friend by her side at Tacoma General Hospital. Mom was born in Alturas, California, on January 15th, 1942, to Harriett and Headlee Armor. She and her husband, Dwaine, became parents at an early age welcoming their first child Kimber Lee in December 1957, and two years later a son, Arlen Ray. They divorced and mom decided to move. She left California and moved up to the Yakima Valley, where she met her husband, John Froehlich, and went on to welcome seven more children. Mom always wanted a "Baker's Dozen" of children, but sadly every third baby she birthed passed away. Johnny (deceased), then Theresa Renee, Patricia Julieanne, Christine (deceased), Vincent Paul, Lisa Marie, and Christopher (deceased). Mom's door was always open to our friends and many in the West Valley called her Mom. She worked hard for her family by bartending, packing apples for many years at local warehouses, and Shield's Bag & Printing. Years later she changed careers and worked retail, which she loved. She enjoyed helping people find "their look" and the interaction with the public. She also embraced working the "home parties" network of Tupperware, Lingerie, Home Interiors, and her favorite, The Pearl Parties. She made many new friends through these parties. Mom met her best friend, Kathleen Hall, in 1983. Being single with her children grown, and the last two in high school, Mom was able to be more footloose and fancy free. She loved to dance, she and Kathy went out and did just that. They traveled together, going to Victoria, Canada, camping up the peninsula and around our local forests. Kathy helped fill the years of being single until Mom met her last husband. She met Leonard Wolf in 1992, and they began a life maintaining a small farm. She always had a green thumb and grew the best gardens year after year. They both loved camping and fishing. They would take week long getaways to different lakes around our state or the beach. The grandkids were blessed to enjoy some of these trips with them. Mom & Leonard shared the love of Polka dance, they were quite the pair on that floor! They attended several different Polka events in the valley as well as some on the Westside. Leonard passed away in June 2020. Mom began battling her own ailments after this, but not letting them dictate her life. She continued to have lunches or just take a drive with Kathy, go camping with family and she took her trip of a lifetime. She and her daughter were able to enjoy a 10 day Mexican Riviera Cruise, where Mom had a blast. This trip became more of a blessing than any of us knew, as a stroke and brain bleed would bring Mom to her final peace just a month later. Mom lived her life on her terms, unapologetically. She didn't always do things the "acceptable or right" way, but it was her way and always to the best of her knowledge and love. She even achieved her GED in 1989 at the age of 47 and she was so proud of this. She loved all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all of her heart. Shirley was preceded in death by her mother Harriett, father Headlee, and stepmother Ida Grace, her babies Johnny, Christine, and Christopher, her husband Leonard Wolf, stepsons Mark Betchard and Lenny Wolfe, her father and mother-in-law Frank & Otilia Wolf, brother-in-law Paul Wolf, and sister-in-law Lou Johnson. Shirley is survived by her sisters Carol Foster (Jack, deceased), Karen Armor, brother Chuck Armor (Pam), and stepbrothers Wick Humble (Benita), Scott Humble (Teri) and Brian Humble (Jodi), brothers and sister-in-laws Wally & Betty Wolf, Clifford & Evonne Wolf. Her children Kimber York (Max), Ray Froehlich, Theresa Chavers, Patricia Froehlich, Vincent Froehlich (Barb), Lisa Konteh, stepchildren Jennifer Wolf (Brandon), Tim Doyea (Pam), grandchildren Jason Jordan (Dorothy), Michael Jordan (Ashley), Steven Beattie (Alexa), Justis Walker (Rana), Quitina & Quyncie Tucker, Garrett, Ian & Noah Chavers, and many great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. A Celebration of Life for both Shirley & Leonard will be held on Saturday, July 12th at 1:00pm at the Central Washington Ag Museum in Union Gap. Lunch will be served as part of the Celebration. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at: www.brooksidefuneral.com