So it's been an interesting day. Started off trying to call USCIS (American Citizenship and Immigration Services) but to no avail. All I got was an automated voice. Finally I got the the secret formula from YouTube on how to reach a live attendant and it worked. My suspicion (and my wife's also) was her Green Card had somehow been revoked or suspended. Attendant said it was fully operational and she shouldn't need a Re-entry visa to return. So my wife and I went to the airport counter where we were the day before and asked for a supervisor (the airport was packed) the agent that helped us yesterday was off. Long story short, the notation from the day before had been removed, the supervisor changed out tickets to tomorrow am, and kept our return flight no charge. This was some sort of glitch thru USCIS and I'm glad I persevered to get to the bottom of it. But, it appears that's what happen, my wife's Green Card was somehow suspended, not sure for how long, and reinstalled when I called this morning 🤔 bit happy ending. And thank you everyone for your help and advice. I'm not sure I would have sprang out of bed like a tiger without all of your motivation.
It was on their computer screen highlighted in bold that my wife would need a re-entry visa upon her return in February. It wasn't a unilateral decision made by the counter lady