Roland James “Jim” Wolfe

Roland James “Jim” Wolfe, 94, of Wailea, Maui, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2020. Jim was born on April 24,

1926 in Cattaraugus, NY to Ralph and Arlene (Pepperdine)

Wolfe. Jim graduated from Lafayette High School in Buffalo in 1944 and then joined the US Army Air Corps. A member of the Greatest Generation, Jim was a veteran of World War

II and served in the Pacific Theater. Jim was honorably discharged in the Fall of 1946. He returned to Buffalo and worked various jobs at a bank, American Radiators, and

Curtiss-Wright in Buffalo until 1949.

At that point, Jim’s fascination with airplanes transformed into his life’s work. He became a steward (a flight attendant in today’s parlance) with Robinson Airlines. Jim started taking flying lessons and earned his commercial pilot’s license in the Summer of 1950 thanks to the GI Bill. In 1951 he left Robinson to join Southwest Airways’ in San Francisco as a steward.

In July 1952, he left Southwest to join Hawaiian Airlines as a co-pilot. Months later, in November of 1952, Jim met the love of his life, Mona Yen (Miss Aloha Maui 1951). At the time, Mona was working as a stewardess for Hawaiian Airlines. Less than a year later, in August 1953, Hawaiian Airlines furloughed some of their pilots, including Jim. He returned to Buffalo and took a job with Mohawk Airlines as a pilot. His and Mona’s love, a story for the ages, was sealed when she left the beautiful Hawaiian Islands and her position at the airlines to move to Buffalo. Mona and Jim were married in Buffalo on April 8, 1954.

They soon moved to Ithaca, NY, to raise their family of four, all born in Ithaca. The Wolfes relocated to Clarence, NY where they raised their children until Jim’s retirement from US Airways. Jim retired from US Airways as a Captain on the Boeing 727 in 1986. His nickname among many of his fellow pilots was “Check Check”, a nod to his thorough preparation in the cockpit.

After retiring, Jim kept his promise to Mona, and they moved back to Mona’s birthplace - Maui. Jim made the transition easily aided by a love of Hawaiian music, playing card games, watching his Buffalo Bills, and enjoying hosting family visits in Maui. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen and Soaring Society of America.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Kaye Avalon Wolfe, and his beloved wife Mona. Jim is survived by his children Dale (Theresa) Wolfe, Greg (Cathy) Wolfe, Bob (Joanne) Wolfe, and Susan (Jim) Uhlman; and his many loving grandchildren; Jeff, Joel, Alexis, Austin, Alex, and Lucy Wolfe, and Andrew and Jack Uhlman.

Jim will be interred with Mona in a private family ceremony. The family will honor Jim’s life and legacy in a larger memorial service to be scheduled at a later date. Condolences may be sent to: Ballard Family Mortuary www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any remembrance be made to Hale Makua Wailuku, 1540 Lower Main St., Wailuku, HI 96793.