Dr. David Merle Wolf, age 82, resident of rural Deerfield, MO, passed away at his home early Tuesday, September 27, 2022. He was born December 16, 1939, in the old Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott, KS. He was the son of Merle and Anna Mayme (Potter) Wolf. He married Barbara Vaughn on March 1, 1963, in Miami, OK.
David (or Doc), as he was known by many, attended grade school in several of the country schools in Bourbon County, Ft. Scott Junior High, and High School. He graduated from Kansas City College and Bible School in Overland Park, KS in 1957. Shortly after graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy where he spent the next five years stationed on the U.S.S. El Dorado.
Having accepted Christ as his Savior at the tender age of four, and a call to preach at twelve, upon his return from the Navy, he began to prepare by returning to Kansas City College and Bible School. With time out to pastor several churches, working with as well as starting a mission in the slums of Kansas City, MO, he did not graduate until 1971 with a Bachelor of Missions degree. Immediately following that, he and his wife moved to Salem, OH, where he attended Aldersgate School of Religion, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in May of 1972. While attending school, he held numerous revivals in area churches. In August of 1972, he received a Doctorate of Theology from the University of Florida. He continued to evangelize while working on his Doctorate of Christian Education from Berean Christian College, graduating in July 1975. During the following years, he continued working in the evangelistic field and teaching in several schools.
When communism fell and the country of Albania was opened to missionaries, he was there presenting the plan of Salvation to a people who did not even acknowledge the very existence of God. He helped establish several churches there over the next fourteen years.
After many years of living in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, California, Arizona, and Ohio, they returned to the Ft. Scott area where they lived until his death. During this time, he continued to evangelize, and in the later years, was quite successful in a 1:1 ministry. As a sideline, he raised cattle and horses, and farmed.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home; two brothers, Nathan (Kathleen) Wolf, Etter, TX, and Garen (Sheila), Cincinnati, OH; several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Merle, and Anna Mayme Wolf; his father and mother-in-law, Russell, and Cletta Vaughn; his sister, Virginia Crooks; as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, October 3rd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until service time Monday at the funeral home.
For many years, he said he did not want any flowers (except for a dandelion) at his funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Albanian Ministries, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.