I met Wade in 1985 when I got to Edwards. He was immediately friendly and welcoming and we quickly became good friends. Wade had a Volkswagen Sirocco that was the loudest, most obnoxious sounding car around. We would go downtown to Lancaster and cruise the main strip with all the other loud obnoxious cars. It was so loud you couldn’t have a conversation in the car! Wade loved that car and we had a lot of fun in it on Friday nights in Lancaster. Wade was a fun person, and was constantly joking and having fun. We even started a band and Wade was the lead singer. It didn’t last long but it was fun and Wade was made to be a lead singer! 

   We connected again on FB about 10 years ago and had some long conversations about the Edwards days. 

I had no idea he had passed and I am deeply saddened to hear this. I wondered why I hadn’t heard from him on FB in so long. The world lost a great dude!! And I’ll miss him. 

So very sorry to have just learned of Wade's passing when trying to call and text him.  Last time we spoke was 4-5 years ago, wish we had been in more regular contact.  My condolences to all of Wade's family.  I first met Wade at Edwards AFB CA in 1983, and we quickly became best friends.  He was my roommate in the enlisted barracks for over a year (and during a 4 month TDY deployment to Loring AFB Maine in 1984).  I'll always remember Wade's incredible sense of humor, his love of cars, and the very fun times we had together.  I have several photos of Wade from 40 years ago, will find and post up.  He was an amazing man who I am beyond blessed and honored to have had as my friend.  God Bless.

Jim

I'm Wade's niece, but he's only five years older than me and was like my big brother when he stayed with my family for his Jr. year in high school.   He was very animated and made me laugh a lot--and roll my eyes too.  We got along well that year, and he big-brothered me.  I'm sure that was new to him growing up with three older sisters.  I remember how much and how fondly he talked about his niece, Tamesa.  It was an adjustment for all to have an instant teenager in the house--we usually grow into teenagers.  We all realized what a good teenager he was after my brother and I were teenagers--not that we were bad, but.....  Wade adjusted to a new house, people and rules while working, going to school, and socializing in a school culture that I'm sure was quite different from his school in Ketchikan.  

He was instrumental in my finding out I was a very lousy singer LOL.  He recorded me singing my heart out to the theme song from Arthur (Dudley Moore) with my make-shift microphone.   When he played it back, I was mad at him at first for recording me...then horrified at my own terrible singing.  My kids confirmed my bad singing when at age 2 they begged, "mommy, please stop singing!"  He saved those around me from years of bad singing...except for my kids--I didn't think they'd notice.  I'm a solo car singer now.

A funny story was the evening we picked Wade up from his job at Alpha Beta--a very large store--to go out for our weekly Friday night dinner at Francesco's--a local italian restaurant.  We pulled up at the arranged time and just sat in the car--for what seemed a very long time.  My dad went into the store to see what was keeping him so long and found he had been detained for shoplifting!  Apparently, he was about to buy some gloves and saw us pull in.  In his attempt to be considerate and let my parents know he was just buying some gloves and would be out shortly, he forgot he had them in his hands, and store personnel assumed he was shoplifting.  Once explained with my dad there to verify, they let him go.  He was a little freaked out by being detained, but laughed as he told the story.  He was a good story teller.

 We lost touch for many years and reconnected on Facebook. I went on a last-minute trip to Ketchikan with my husband on the way to Craig for a work project. Without advanced notice, I messaged Wade from a beautiful bay in the area to let him know I was there. Much like his father/my grandpa did when he arrived in Salt Lake at our doorstep without warning ;).   After saying, "What the hell, Michelle?!? you couldn't tell me you were coming?" He invited us to dinner that evening and had us over again on our way home from Craig. It was so great to re-connect after all those years and meet his family! I feel so lucky I had the chance to do that. So generous and kind--such a fun evening! I'm sorry we didn't make it back to go fishing with him.

I was also truly impressed by his artistic talent all those years ago when he would bring home artwork from high school.  The evening I dropped into Ketchikan, he showed me one of the drawings/paintings he had done in high school while in Salt Lake--it was incredible!  I had forgotten just how talented he was.  

I know we didn't stay close all those years, but I will always feel connected to Wade and my Ketchikan-born family.  Love you uncle-brother Wade!  To his family and friends--I'm so sorry for your loss--sending love and prayers your way.

Michelle