Being extraordinary isn’t reserved for the rich, famous, the powerful, or the privileged. Extraordinary people exist within even the most seemingly ordinary lives. They are the ones with the knack for living genuine, authentic, and generous lives, and they inspire us to attempt the same.

Edward Robert Wolfe, who died Feb. 17 at the age of 90, was just about as common as you could get, but, in many ways he was extraordinary. For example, he had three grandsons who are ministers and conducted his funeral.

“My father was a good guy and was very caring. He was a hard worker all his life, was always there for his family, very supportive, and kept us in church,” said Wayne, one of three sons.

His only daughter, Sandy Feathers, noted that her father had worked at a number of jobs. “Some were factory jobs, and he did construction work, and in addition to his jobs, he raised tobacco and a garden,” said Sandy.

“He was working in a sewing factory — Big Jack — up in Bristol when he and Mama met. They were married 71 years. After he retired from public works, he stayed at home and did anything Mama wanted. He was good help to her,” Sandy shared.

Wolfe had a passion for fishing and enjoyed taking his children along. “Springtime was his favorite time to fish before the creek got out of its banks. He enjoyed fishing at Cherokee Lake and the local creeks and rivers. We never ate what we caught. We either threw them back or gave them away,” said Sandy.

Sandy also remembers going rabbit hunting with her daddy. “Just like fishing, we all went rabbit hunting with him,” she shared.

Wayne said the family had always lived in the same house in Bunker Hill near Bluff City. “My parents bought that house in 1948 or 1949, and it has been home ever since,” he said, noting that the family still gets together every Sunday after church for dinner.

In addition to Wayne and Sandy, there are two other children, Vonnie and Allen. In addition, Wolfe had 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His grandsons, Jonathan Feathers, Evan Wolfe, and Jordan Wolfe, are ministers. Jonathan is minister at First Christian Church, Bluff City; Evan at Poplar Ridge Christian Church; and Jordan in Savannah, Ga.

“Dad always went to church and for a time served as a deacon at Bunker Hill Christian Church, which is the family’s home church,” said Sandy. “Dad loved his church and was faithful in attendance until just recently. He was diagnosed with cancer in January and died a month later.”

Sandy and Wayne shared that their dad in his later years enjoyed watching the old westerns on television — Gunsmoke and the like.

Edward Wolfe was just an ordinary man, who made life an adventure, and appreciated the things that mattered most — his family, faith, church, and the ability to work and provide for his family. That was what set him apart from others. He was faithful to the end.