Richard 'Rip'
Wilbert Rolf, 80
CAMBRIDGE, Md. - Richard "Rip" Wilbert Rolf was called home to God on Thursday, February 3, 2022.
Born August 24, 1941, in Winsted-McLeod County, Minn., he was a son of the late Agnes and Fred Rolf.
Rip married the former, JoDell Lee Cusick, on October 15, 1966. Together they raised two sons, Arrick Richard Rolf and Kevin Craig Rolf.
He enlisted in the Army Reserve while working the Rolf family farm in Lester Prairie, Minn. until 1968 when he gained employment at the Lester Prairie Grain Elevator. In 1972, he moved his family to Cambridge, Md. to be closer to his wife's family. Upon arrival in Cambridge, he worked for Allen Tyler & Son as a shop mechanic until the business closed in 1991.
On March 29, 1986, he married his current wife, Barbara Ann Hummer.
Through his employment and auction and antiquing pastimes, he met and was admired by many. He spent 20+ years in the antique store business with his latest endeavor being Dark Horse Antiques with his son, Kevin. To know him was to love him. He was a larger man, 6'3" in his prime, soon people would see that his heart and personality were also larger than life. He was a kind and compassionate gentle giant that would give you the shirt off his back. He had a fondness for animals, especially cats and kittens. His gentle ways were evident in all his actions, and he was rarely flustered or stressed. He had the patience of Job and was instrumental and influential in raising 3 generations of "Rolfs."
He was also an avid storyteller and his voice commanded your attention. He could talk for hours with family and old friends or someone he just met. He loved the "human experience" and people were instantly comfortable engaging in conversation with him.
He would often joke about being mistaken for C. Everett Koop the surgeon general – one visitor made his day by telling him he looked like Sean Connery.
Survived by his wife, Barbara; former wife, JoDell (Robby); sons, Arrick (Lori) and Kevin; former daughter-in-law, Wendi Rolf; stepson, Ward Fishpaw (Debbie); a special niece, Tyra Todd (Jed) that he considered a daughter; grandchildren, Brandyn Rolf (Heather), Madison Rolf (Ian), Madeline Fishpaw, and Evan Fishpaw; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Trenton, Tucker, and Harper; sisters, Mary Birkholz and Jeannine Murphy; brother, Louis Rolf (Jenny); sister-in-law, Molly Spicer; multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins in the Midwest.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Charles Rolf and Roland Rolf.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 beginning 11:30 a.m. at Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Bloodsworth. The family will receive friends the hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at East New Market Cemetery
Pallbearers are Arrick Rolf, Kevin Rolf, Brandyn Rolf, Ward Fishpaw, T. George Wittstadt, Godson Kyle Cusick, and "honorary pallbearer" Jed Todd.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Rip's name can be sent to Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Kitty Kat Kottage, 3711 Elliott Drive, East New Market, MD 21631.