James Mitchell “Jimmy” Wade, Sr., 78, of Afton, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at the Augusta Health of the Shenandoah Hospice House. He was born in Nelson County on October 29, 1940,a son of the late Bland Mitchell Wade and Alice (Critzer) Wade Fortune.
Jimmy worked for 39 years as an Electrician with DuPont and later worked as a school bus driver for 15 years with Nelson County. He served as a deacon with Beech Grove Christian Church and was a member of the Staunton Moose Lodge. Jimmy played baseball in high school and Tri County League and later played softball in the DuPont League. With his passion for baseball, he served as a coach for little league and Babe Ruth and was an avid Washington Nationals fan. Jimmy also taught basic electricial at Valley Career and Technical Center. Rabbit hunting, running his beagles, gardening, cooking on the grill, and just general work, were a few of his favorite hobbies.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mona Carter.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Campbell Wade; son, James Mitchell Wade, Jr. and Pat of Afton; daughter, Jacqueline (Wade) Fields and husband, Richard of Mechanicsville; brother, Bland McLaughlin Wade of Richmond; grandchildren, Brittany (Wade) Inmon and husband, Mike, Brooke Wade, Olivia, Hunter, and Leia Fields; great-grandchildren, Lillyrose, Christian, and Skylar Inmon; special niece, Sherri Guyer; special nephew, Mike Campbell; as well as additional nieces and nephews; special friend, Ann Taylor; as well as additional friends.
Jimmy also leaves behind his four legged friends, Josie, Pickles, Foxy, and Rambo.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2019 at Beech Grove Christian Church, 1207 Beech Grove Rd, Roseland, with Pastors Mike Auen and Billy Coffey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Richard Fields, Hunter Fields, Mike Campbell, Keith “Bo” Dodd, Ed Mawyer, Adam Ellinger, Gary Layne, Gordon Hughes, and O.J. Wade.
Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jimmy’s memory to Augusta Health Foundation, C/O Hospice of the Shenandoah Hospice House, P.O. Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939 and/or the Almost Home PET Adoption Center, 29 Stagebridge Rd, Lovingston, VA 22949.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Jimmy’s doctors: James Boyer, Sylvia Hendricks, Stephen Schmitz, and Frazier Fortenberry; and the staff at the Hospice House, especially, Rebecca, for their loving care of Jimmy and his family.
Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories online with the family by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com.
