OBITUARY: Fred Johnson Wolfe Jr.

Fred Johnson Wolfe, Jr. went home to be with Jesus on November 28, 2025. Fred was born in Nashville, Tennessee on January 27, 1934, the son of Fred J. Wolfe, Sr. and Margaret Wolfe. He spent his childhood years growing up in North Nashville, graduating from North High School in 1952. In 1954, Fred married Beverly Wright, also recently graduated from North High. She was the love of his life, and they would spend 71 years together and would raise three sons. Fred was a devoted husband and father and loved his family dearly.

Out of high school, his first job was unloading boxcars of appliances in Cummins Station. This proved to be the beginning of a lifetime of work in the appliance business, as he eventually became an appliance salesman with Braid Electric Company in Nashville. During this period of time, he also served eight years in the Army Reserves. In time, he advanced into management and eventually spent many years as sales manager for Keith-Simmons Company, a Whirlpool distributor. He spent the last 10 years of his working career as sales manager for Whirlpool Corporation with his territory being the eastern seaboard of the United States.

From an early age, Fred had a great love for music. This resulted in a lifetime hobby playing the guitar as well as a lifelong love for singing. There were countless informal music sessions with friends and family in the Wolfe household, and Fred’s guitar playing even included a stint on an early ‘Friday Night Opry’ show in Nashville. The love for vocal music manifested itself in Fred becoming a song leader for worship, which he did for many years. It also led to him establishing the ‘Wingate Chorus’, a choral group that traveled to many churches to offer to others the blessing of hearing well-loved hymns.

Fred was good-natured and was always able to make others laugh. He loved to joke around as a backwoods redneck character and loved Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther movies. He also was a devoted fan of ice hockey, beginning with the Nashville Dixie Flyers and continuing on through the Predators in later years.

But taking precedence over all this was his lifelong love for the Lord. He served the church in many roles, first as song leader, then as a deacon, later as a youth minister, and then as an elder in the Wingate, Summit (Cold Spring, KY), and Bellevue congregations of the Church of Christ. Through all those years, he conducted countless one-on-one Bible studies with individuals and led many to faith in Christ. He also served after retirement with Eastern European Missions to help provide Bibles to that area of the world. He was devoted to Bible study and prayer, to the degree that he would lead prayers with others in the latter stages of his life even though suffering from dementia.

Fred was well loved and respected by everyone. He treasured his wife and family and loved spending time with them as often as possible, especially during the holidays and when traveling on vacations together.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred J. Wolfe, Sr. and Margaret Cox Wolfe, and his sister, Sandra Wolfe. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Wright Wolfe; brother, Charles (Ann) Wolfe; sons, Steve (Sarah) Wolfe, Kevin (Laurie) Wolfe, and Rick Wolfe; Dana Pilkinton Wolfe; grandchildren, Hannah (Blake) Allen, Isaiah Wolfe, Whitney (Brandon) Cadavid, Weston (Kate) Wolfe, Wyatt Wolfe, Wynnen (Dylan) Brooks, Zach Wolfe, Nate Wolfe, Sam Wolfe, and Madeleine Wolfe; nieces, Debbie (Walter) York and Phyllis (Jeff) Robertson; nine great-grandchildren, and a host of great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road, on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 1:00 PM by Wendell Byrd and Merle Grizzell. Active Pallbearers: Bobby Ferrell, Merle Grizzell, Mike Johns, Jim Neeley, Wyatt Rampy, and Bruce Zupa. Visitation hours will be held from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday, prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eastern European Missions https://eem.org.