Suella May Robinson Wolfe

Suella May Robinson Wolfe was born in Pulaski, Virginia on April 14, 1947 and passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her close friends and family. She was the beloved daughter of Thelma Allen and Elmer “Bud” Robinson, and the cherished sister of Kay Welch. Suella and Kay had the great fortune of growing up in a close-knit family compound, surrounded by their grandparents, aunt, and many cousins—an upbringing that fostered not only her deep sense of family but also the grit and strong work ethic that defined her throughout her life. Suella graduated from Pulaski High School in 1965. The following year, she began her long career at Virginia Tech as a secretary in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Over the decades, her dedication, skill, and steady presence carried her into the role of Grants Program Administrative Supervisor, a position she held until her retirement in 2003. However, Suella’s retirement was short-lived, and she quickly returned part-time to contribute to various projects before fully retiring in 2019. This will not come as a surprise to those who had the pleasure of knowing Suella. Her persistence was instilled in her at an early age and that determination was exhibited in every aspect of her life. From spending each summer cultivating her beloved tomato plants even in her declining health, to facilitating the Helping Hands drive at GraceLife Baptist Church, Suella was devoted to serving her family, her community, and Christ right up until her passing. Suella passed in the way that all of us hope to; embraced by the hands of her loving family and lifelong friends, bathed in the sound of the hymns and gospel songs that she cherished, as she passed on to her eternal home. To those who she left behind, classifying her loss is an impossible task. She was never just an acquaintance or co-worker. To each person that knew her, she was both a friend and a sister, a mother and a teacher. All who were blessed to have known Suella are now left with the immeasurable task of living in her footsteps, but are reassured by her unwavering faith that she will harbor them in her heart as they strive to do right by their families and communities before they are returned to her. Suella was preceded in death by her parents, Thelma Allen and Elmer Robinson, and her cousin H. L. Sutphin. She is survived by her husband Richard “Barry” Wolfe, daughter Melody Wolfe, her two grandchildren Fiona and Beckett Wolfe Thomas, as well as her sister Kay Welch. She is also survived by her cousins; Senita Haga and Jane Umberger, as well as numerous others from Virginia to Tennessee. Her memory also remains with her lifelong friends; Betty Green and Diane Kegley. A celebration of Suella’s life will be held on Wednesday, October 1st at GraceLife Baptist Church in Christiansburg, VA. Visitation will be held at 10am followed by a service at 11am and luncheon at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Helping Hands program at GraceLife Baptist Church. Monetary donations can be mailed year-round to the attention finance office at GraceLife, P.O. Box 701 Christiansburg, VA 24068. Donations of non-perishable food items, clothing, and toys can be brought to the church when the Helping Hands drive commences in August.