[1][5] On April 19, 1947, Violet's husband Charley Bidwill died, leaving ownership of the Chicago Cardinals to her.

Bidwill's first season as owner saw the Cardinals, led by the "Dream Backfield" of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Charley Trippi, defeat the Philadelphia Eagles for the franchise's first undisputed league championship.

[6] Her new husband, a St. Louis native and alumnus of Washington University, quickly stepped into the role of managing director of the football club.

[6] When the Bears of George Halas slowly began becoming the favorite of the Chicago area, the Wolfners moved the team to St. Louis after the 1959 season.

Wolfner died in a physician's office in Miami Beach, Florida, on January 29, 1962,[3][7] and is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.