Jane Elizabeth Wolfe was born March 24, 1919, in Avon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
Her parents were Titus Raymond Wolfe and Sara (Light) Wolfe. She had two sisters, Kathryn Frey and Ruth Hollinger, and two adopted sisters, June and Darlene. She is survived by her sister, Darlene, who lives in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
Jane attended a rural "one-room" red schoolhouse with the same teacher for grades 1 through 8. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at age 12.
She attended Jonestown High School, in Jonestown, PA from 1932 to 1936. Jane graduated Valedictorian and delivered the Commencement Valedictory speech. Jane writes,
Jane also taught a Bible class for 9th grade girls from 1938–1958.
From 1940 to 1957, Jane worked as a law secretary in an attorney's office in Lebanon, PA, and had varied responsibilities. During these years, she also helped organize a local Youth for Christ Rally in Lebanon, PA, on a county-wide basis with a very active Saturday night program. She served as executive secretary, engaging out-of-town speakers and musical talent and arranging special events. During this time span, Jane also helped organize a local chapter of Christian Business & Professional Women, serving as chairperson and later as telephone chairperson.
During WWII, Jane's pastor asked her to undertake the writing and sending of a monthly devotional letter to the servicemen leaving for war from her church. There were about 100 servicemen from her church receiving the letter by the end of the war, but the list grew to almost 900 as other groups requested their servicemen be included also.
Almost 20 years out of high school, in February 1955, Jane started a Freshman English class at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. With the encouragement of her professor who liked her final writing, Jane decided to continue with day studies through the summer and with evening classes in the fall. She was able to attend as a full-time day student the last two years at her schooling, and graduated with a B.A. in English in June 1959, having been elected to Phi Alpha Epsilon (the Honor Society of the College).
In September 1959, Jane entered Syracuse University Graduate School. By May 1960, she completed the required class hours for her Masters of Art degree, returning to Syracuse University for three consecutive summers to write her thesis on John Donne's "La Corona" Sonnet sequence, which deals with seven specific events in the life of Christ. Jane completed the writing and oral exam before the English Department Professors and received her M.A. In English Literature in August 1963.
In March 1962, Jane submitted an article which was published in the College Language Association Journal on George Herbert's poem "Assurance".
Jane's career as a teacher at four difference Christian academies in four different states began in September 1960 at Riverview Academy, in Neptune, New Jersey. She taught 11th and 12th grade English, German, and American History until June 1964. She was also the Student Council Advisor and yearbook staff sponsor.
From September 1964 to May 1968, Jane taught English, Speech, and Latin, and planned special events at Kingswood School in Tate Springs, Tennessee. The children that attended this school were all underprivileged children from Appalachia—all coming from broken homes—deserted, neglected, court appointed. Teachers lived on campus and ate in the dining room with the students so they could interact with them as much as possible. Jane, who was an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, enjoyed the annual field trips in mid-October and mid-May to the Smoky Mountains, a 2 1/2 hours drive from the school. During the summers she worked at a children's Bible camp at a mission in the Eastern Kentucky mountains.
From September 1968 to June 1979, Jane taught English, Speech, German I, II, and III, and Bible at Ross Corners Christian Academy, in Vestal, New York. She also served as yearbook staff advisor and as coordinator of the fine arts festivals, preparing students to compete in speech, dramatic and interpretive readings, and spelling. Jane began noticing voice irritation the last year there.
During the summers of 1970 and 1972, Jane spent her time proofreading and correcting the final script for six complete cycles of DVBS material for scripture Memory Mountain Mission in Emmalena, Kentucky. The material was written and prepared by one of her friends from Pennsylvania.
From September 1979 to June 1980, Jane taught at Temple Christian School in Rockingham, North Carolina. Jane's voice problems became progressively worse. She underwent very exhaustive tests at Lancaster Osteopedic Hospital in Lancaster, PA in June of that year. Without any medical hope for a cure, Jane had to give up teaching.
God had already started preparing Jane for her next 20 year assignment for Him. While Jane was teaching in up-state New York, her sister Ruth and family moved from Pennsylvania to Winona Lake, Indiana. Ruth began writing Jane about her new next door neighbors, World Missionary Press and the Watson Goodman family. On a visit out to Indiana to visit her sister, Jane helped prepare a meal for Watson and Rose Goodman, along with Harry Goodman, Ray Stair and his son Tim. Jane writes, "This was on MOVING DAY when the Press vacated Winona Lake premises and moved to New Paris." Several summers later, in 1977, Jane came to the Press for two weeks of volunteering. After losing the use of her voice in 1979 and wondering what she would now do and where she would live, God reminded Jane of World Missionary Press. Jane wrote to the Press inquiring about a possible staff position. Watson Goodman replied that there were no paid positions at the time but he invited her to join the team as a resident volunteer worker. Two weeks later, armed with God's promises to provide for her every need, Jane moved to New Paris, Indiana, to work at World Missionary Press.
Jane worked at World Missionary Press from November 1980 through May 2000, helping to keep records, and doing correspondence and various other jobs. God did faithfully provide for all of Jane's needs. She lived a simple and godly life, enjoying the friendships she made at the Press and at her church, New Paris Missionary. She also helped to support various missionaries around the world through both her faithful prayers and giving.
After showing the first signs of what turned out to be Parkinson's disease and having had her second car accident within two years in May 2000, in which she sustained a cracked pelvis, Jane was no longer able to live alone and care for herself. She was admitted to what is now CourtYard Nursing Home in Goshen, IN, in June 2000. Amazingly and miraculously, Jane's voice got stronger and louder. She would need her voice to make her needs known. God once again was providing for all her needs. In her first years at the nursing home, she joined in the weekly Bible studies and attended the resident church services and other activities, blessing people with her insights, sweet attitude, and encouraging words. Even as her condition deteriorated and she showed more and more signs of dementia, Jane continued to be a blessing to all the lives she touched. Her sweet Christ-like spirit continued to shine through on the days she was feeling good and on the days when she wasn't. She was truly a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Jane went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her family members and friends who have gone before, and her final reward on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at 2:07 p.m., at age 89.
Written by WMP Staff Member and Jane's POA in 2008
Link to World Missionary Press Website.
Her parents were Titus Raymond Wolfe and Sara (Light) Wolfe. She had two sisters, Kathryn Frey and Ruth Hollinger, and two adopted sisters, June and Darlene. She is survived by her sister, Darlene, who lives in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
Jane attended a rural "one-room" red schoolhouse with the same teacher for grades 1 through 8. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at age 12.
She attended Jonestown High School, in Jonestown, PA from 1932 to 1936. Jane graduated Valedictorian and delivered the Commencement Valedictory speech. Jane writes,
"I had a deep inner conviction that all honors I received were due to God's enabling me. Consequently, I distinctly recall coming home from graduation exercises, excusing myself from the family celebration a few minutes, retiring to my room and surrendering my honors and life to my Heavenly Father to do with as He chooses—to His honor and glory—His possession. This has remained my life commitment as I claimed Psalm 32:8 as my life verse." Psalm 32:8 - "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye."From 1936 to 1938, Jane attended Lebanon Business College, taking a two-year secretarial course which she helped finance by part-time clerking in a department store and operating a multigraph machine in the school office. During those years, she also enrolled in an evening Bible study class, taking the comprehensive Scofield Reference Bible Correspondence course through Moody Bible Institute.
Jane also taught a Bible class for 9th grade girls from 1938–1958.
From 1940 to 1957, Jane worked as a law secretary in an attorney's office in Lebanon, PA, and had varied responsibilities. During these years, she also helped organize a local Youth for Christ Rally in Lebanon, PA, on a county-wide basis with a very active Saturday night program. She served as executive secretary, engaging out-of-town speakers and musical talent and arranging special events. During this time span, Jane also helped organize a local chapter of Christian Business & Professional Women, serving as chairperson and later as telephone chairperson.
During WWII, Jane's pastor asked her to undertake the writing and sending of a monthly devotional letter to the servicemen leaving for war from her church. There were about 100 servicemen from her church receiving the letter by the end of the war, but the list grew to almost 900 as other groups requested their servicemen be included also.
Almost 20 years out of high school, in February 1955, Jane started a Freshman English class at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. With the encouragement of her professor who liked her final writing, Jane decided to continue with day studies through the summer and with evening classes in the fall. She was able to attend as a full-time day student the last two years at her schooling, and graduated with a B.A. in English in June 1959, having been elected to Phi Alpha Epsilon (the Honor Society of the College).
In September 1959, Jane entered Syracuse University Graduate School. By May 1960, she completed the required class hours for her Masters of Art degree, returning to Syracuse University for three consecutive summers to write her thesis on John Donne's "La Corona" Sonnet sequence, which deals with seven specific events in the life of Christ. Jane completed the writing and oral exam before the English Department Professors and received her M.A. In English Literature in August 1963.
In March 1962, Jane submitted an article which was published in the College Language Association Journal on George Herbert's poem "Assurance".
Jane's career as a teacher at four difference Christian academies in four different states began in September 1960 at Riverview Academy, in Neptune, New Jersey. She taught 11th and 12th grade English, German, and American History until June 1964. She was also the Student Council Advisor and yearbook staff sponsor.
From September 1964 to May 1968, Jane taught English, Speech, and Latin, and planned special events at Kingswood School in Tate Springs, Tennessee. The children that attended this school were all underprivileged children from Appalachia—all coming from broken homes—deserted, neglected, court appointed. Teachers lived on campus and ate in the dining room with the students so they could interact with them as much as possible. Jane, who was an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, enjoyed the annual field trips in mid-October and mid-May to the Smoky Mountains, a 2 1/2 hours drive from the school. During the summers she worked at a children's Bible camp at a mission in the Eastern Kentucky mountains.
From September 1968 to June 1979, Jane taught English, Speech, German I, II, and III, and Bible at Ross Corners Christian Academy, in Vestal, New York. She also served as yearbook staff advisor and as coordinator of the fine arts festivals, preparing students to compete in speech, dramatic and interpretive readings, and spelling. Jane began noticing voice irritation the last year there.
During the summers of 1970 and 1972, Jane spent her time proofreading and correcting the final script for six complete cycles of DVBS material for scripture Memory Mountain Mission in Emmalena, Kentucky. The material was written and prepared by one of her friends from Pennsylvania.
From September 1979 to June 1980, Jane taught at Temple Christian School in Rockingham, North Carolina. Jane's voice problems became progressively worse. She underwent very exhaustive tests at Lancaster Osteopedic Hospital in Lancaster, PA in June of that year. Without any medical hope for a cure, Jane had to give up teaching.
God had already started preparing Jane for her next 20 year assignment for Him. While Jane was teaching in up-state New York, her sister Ruth and family moved from Pennsylvania to Winona Lake, Indiana. Ruth began writing Jane about her new next door neighbors, World Missionary Press and the Watson Goodman family. On a visit out to Indiana to visit her sister, Jane helped prepare a meal for Watson and Rose Goodman, along with Harry Goodman, Ray Stair and his son Tim. Jane writes, "This was on MOVING DAY when the Press vacated Winona Lake premises and moved to New Paris." Several summers later, in 1977, Jane came to the Press for two weeks of volunteering. After losing the use of her voice in 1979 and wondering what she would now do and where she would live, God reminded Jane of World Missionary Press. Jane wrote to the Press inquiring about a possible staff position. Watson Goodman replied that there were no paid positions at the time but he invited her to join the team as a resident volunteer worker. Two weeks later, armed with God's promises to provide for her every need, Jane moved to New Paris, Indiana, to work at World Missionary Press.
Jane worked at World Missionary Press from November 1980 through May 2000, helping to keep records, and doing correspondence and various other jobs. God did faithfully provide for all of Jane's needs. She lived a simple and godly life, enjoying the friendships she made at the Press and at her church, New Paris Missionary. She also helped to support various missionaries around the world through both her faithful prayers and giving.
After showing the first signs of what turned out to be Parkinson's disease and having had her second car accident within two years in May 2000, in which she sustained a cracked pelvis, Jane was no longer able to live alone and care for herself. She was admitted to what is now CourtYard Nursing Home in Goshen, IN, in June 2000. Amazingly and miraculously, Jane's voice got stronger and louder. She would need her voice to make her needs known. God once again was providing for all her needs. In her first years at the nursing home, she joined in the weekly Bible studies and attended the resident church services and other activities, blessing people with her insights, sweet attitude, and encouraging words. Even as her condition deteriorated and she showed more and more signs of dementia, Jane continued to be a blessing to all the lives she touched. Her sweet Christ-like spirit continued to shine through on the days she was feeling good and on the days when she wasn't. She was truly a blessing to all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Jane went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her family members and friends who have gone before, and her final reward on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at 2:07 p.m., at age 89.
Written by WMP Staff Member and Jane's POA in 2008
Link to World Missionary Press Website.
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