Irene Ann Rolfe

Irene Ann Rolfe, aged 96, passed away peacefully in the presence of  family on Sunday, March 10,2024 at St. Joseph of the Pines, Southern  Pines, North Carolina. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, one of five  daughters born to George and Ethel Corking of Liverpool, England. At  a young age, she moved with her family to Oxford, England, where she  grew up during WWII. At age 19, she emigrated to the United States. She attended McConnell Stewardess School in Minneapolis. Upon  graduation, she was hired by Delta Airlines December, 1948 as an airline  hostess based in Atlanta, Georgia. She married Colonel Richard Lyle  Rolfe at Fort McPherson, Georgia on April 26, 1952. As an Army wife,  Irene joined Colonel Rolfe at duty stations which included Tokyo, Japan,  Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Alexandria, Virginia, Frankfurt, Germany, and  McLean, Virginia. Widowed in July 1968, she moved to Myrtle Beach,  South Carolina in 1971. She worked as a legal secretary for the Bellamy  Law Firm, retiring after forty years.   

She is survived by her four children, Michael Jon Rolfe, Patricia (Patti)  Rolfe McCaleb, her husband David, Rodney Dean Rolfe, his wife  Leslie, Ronald Dale Rolfe, his wife Laure, grandchildren Lindsey Anne  McCaleb, her fiancé John Bello, Eric Nicolas Rolfe, his wife Kara,  Brianna Rolfe Cunningham, her husband Michael and great grandson  Logan, and her sister Vivian Roblin, her husband Jack. 

Irene enjoyed biking and traveling and combined the two with several  bike tours, including France, Switzerland, and Holland. 

Irene thoroughly enjoyed her time with Delta Airlines and her many  travels with her beloved husband. She took seriously and  enthusiastically her second career as the wife of an Army officer and  forged long lasting bonds with those individuals she met through the  service. She was dedicated to her husband and their children and gave  unlimited support whenever it was needed. She will be greatly missed. 

Burial is to be conducted at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery,  where she will be interred with her husband, Colonel Richard Rolfe.