Don was born on Sept. 1, 1923, in Chicago, Ill., to Alfred and Mary Mimnaugh Woelfle, the older son of two children. He passed away peacefully at home.
He was educated in Chicago. After graduating from Harper High School in 1940, Don went to La Salle Extension University night school and worked days. He wanted to be a certified public accountant. World War II changed that. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. His job was aviation machinist and aerial gunner, with various aviation squadrons in the Pacific.
After the war he transferred to the administrative branch and was stationed aboard ships of the Military Sea Transportation Service, particularly the General Mitchell and General Mann.
Don served two years on the island of Kwajalein in the Marshall chain, and then aboard the USS Eldorado. He served on the staff of Amphibious Group 1, which participated in amphibious training with the Chinese Nationalist Navy.
For four years, Senior Chief Woelfle served as administrative assistant for the Navy ROTC at Oregon State University. He retired in 1964 after serving 22 years in the Navy.
Don next got a job in the Agricultural Economics Department of Oregon State University from 1964 to 1968. He then went to school to become a certified purchasing agent, and worked for Neptune Microfloc, a company in Corvallis that manufactured parts for water and wastewater treatment equipment. In 1982, Microfloc moved east and Don decided to stay in Corvallis. He then got a job at Home Federal Savings in Albany as purchasing agent, finally retiring in 1989.
Donald Woelfle is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lorraine Fagan Woelfle; brother, Bob Woelfle (Shirl); his children, Barbara Woodward, Sharon Tucker (Robin), Terese Regan, David Woelfle (Kerri), John Woelfle (Nancy), Maureen Schorr, Mary Burton (Ed), Paula Spilsbury (Paul) and Catherine Woelfle-Petryszak (Pete); 18 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., both at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. The casket will be open for one hour prior to the Rosary.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Vincent de Paul or Stone Soup in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330.
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