Charles "Bubba" Wade Jr.

Bubba Wade, husband, father, former Arkansas State Representative for eighteen years and active rancher departed this life on December 28, 2016 at Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas with family by his side. Bubba was born April 23, 1929 in Texarkana, Arkansas to the late Charles Oscar Wade, Sr. and Ellen Katherine Randall Wade.

He grew up in Texarkana where he graduated from Texarkana Arkansas High School. He continued his education at North Texas State College in Denton, Texas where Bubba was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and graduated with a BA degree in 1951. After graduation he worked in the Houston, Texas area where he met the late Barbara Wade at Prudential Life. Bubba and Barbara got married in 1953 in Houston, Texas.

Bubba was an accomplished politician, businessman, lifelong rancher, and avid horseman who established Fire, Casualty and Life Insurance business in Houston, Texas, as well as the founder of Arkansas Bankers Life Insurance Company in 1975. He received many awards throughout the years including an award for his contributions to local FFA Chapters, as well as to the state FFA Chapters, and the Arkansas Hospital Association’s 1979 Statesmanship Award during the AHA’s 49th annual convention, and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corp.

Bubba always found the time to be a devoted and caring son, husband, father, and politician. He helped push the betterment and availability of vocational and technical programs for youth and adults, helping in the establishment of Ashdown City Park and Millwood State Park, his success in improving the health and wealth of persons in Little River County, striving to improve state agencies and governmental affairs, expanding the State Medical Center, provided legislation where a physician assistance program could be established, exempting service-connected totally and permanently disabled veterans from paying property tax, requiring the state of Arkansas to inspect interstate pipe lines for added safety, and provided many funds for the county, district and state. Bubba was also worked with Southern Arkansas University in getting sponsors for the rodeo club for future scholarships. He was especially supportive of 4-H, FFA, and programs related to livestock, high school and college rodeos. Even through all of his political and volunteer endeavors, Bubba continued to support his wife and children in their active lifestyles.

Bubba is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Wade, and his sister, Patsy Wade.

Celebrating his memories and accomplishments, Mr. Wade is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Brenda Wade of Ashdown, Randy Wade of New Boston, Hal Wade and the late Sharon Wade of Ashdown, John Wade of Ashdown, Alejandro and Rita Martinez of Texarkana; daughters and sons-in-laws, Sandra and Verdo Powell of Texarkana, Susan and Eddy Johnston of Ashdown, a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and special friends.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 2, 2017 at East Funeral Home – Downtown, Texarkana.

Services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at East Funeral Home – Downtown with Tuffy Williams officiating.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the compassionate and outstanding care provided by home health and hospices. We want to express our heart-felt gratitude and say thank you to all friends to the family for making this difficult time a little easier.