William "Bill" Henry Wade

On October 19, 2019, William “Bill” Henry Wade of Kokomo, Indiana passed away at the age of 88, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Bill was born on August 7, 1931 in Toledo, Ohio to Robert and Mae (Hightower) Wade. He spent his childhood and young adult life in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He always had interesting stories to tell about growing up as a “River Rat” along the Ohio River and adventures in the big city of Louisville. He graduated from Jeffersonville High School in 1950, just in time to join the Air Force at the start of the Korean War.

While stationed in Germany, he met and married Hilda Erika Schmidt and returned to the US to settle in Jeffersonville, Seymour and then Nashville, Indiana to raise a family. He continued his work as a flight mechanic at the Bakalar Air Force Base in Columbus, Indiana. When Bakalar closed in 1970, all operations of his group moved to Grissom Air Force Base in Peru and the family resettled in Kokomo, Indiana. Bill completed his career with the 434th Tactical Fighter Wing and retired with honors in 1987 as Chief Master Sergeant after 35 years with Civil Service and the US Air Force.

Bill remained in Kokomo and spent winters in Florida where he enjoyed playing golf and volunteering at the golf club to which he belonged. He was always available to volunteer for anyone who needed a project completed. He was famous for his bratwurst and hot chili cookouts. He was a member of the Macedonia Christian Church.

He was preceded in death by a son, Ted Alan Wade; sister, Peggy Jean Wade; and both parents, Robert Wade and Mae Wade. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Hilda (Schmidt) Wade; daughter, Linda (Tom) Bauer of Nashville, Indiana; son, William (Barbara) Wade of Tipton, Indiana; granddaughter Stephanie (Blake) Godwin of Apex, North Carolina; and great grandson, William Palmer Godwin; step granddaughter, Kim (Zane) Glasscock and step grandchildren Brennen and Maddison Hyde, step grandson Ben (Nerissa) Bauer and step grandchildren Jack and Emma Bauer.

The family wishes to thank the Nurses and CNA’s at Aperion Care of Kokomo for their support and care giving. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research of the Indiana Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of William Henry Wade.

Family will welcome friends Thursday, October 24 from 10am to noon at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, IN 46902. Service will be at noon and burial with Military Honors to follow at 1pm.