BELLVILLE – Moving to Bellville in 1946, Shirley J. Wade; loving wife, mom and grandma; passed away on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Crystal Care Center of Mansfield after several years of dealing with Alzheimer’s and due to complications from COVID-19. She enjoyed life for 91 years.
Shirley was an independent thinker, but she always made sure to put her family first. She loved her family very much and would always support them no matter what! She will be greatly missed.
Shirley was born on Jan. 17, 1930, in Washington, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Bellville High School in 1948. As a senior and high school homecoming queen, she began dating fellow classmate Van Ross Wade. On July 23, 1950, the two were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bellville, where they were both members. Together they shared 66 years of marriage. Now they are gardening together again.
Shirley worked at Ohio Bell for a couple of years as a switchboard operator before she and Van were married. She enjoyed flower gardening as well as vegetable gardening. She was actually the one who bought the first hosta for the hosta gardens that they started. Shirley and Van owned Wade & Gatton Nurseries together, where she took care of the books and made sure all of the workers stayed in line. They enjoyed traveling together and made it a point to attend the annual Hosta Society National Convention, which was hosted at many different places across the country. Shirley was an avid reader of the Bible and mysteries. She also took time to volunteer as a poll worker and judge for many years and was always up for talking politics.
She is survived by her children, Steven (Margaret) Wade of Bellville, Tom (Robyn) Wade of Bellville, Brian (Cheryl) Wade of Bellville and Linda Wade (Nat Chillemi) of Butler; grandchildren, Mark and James Wade, Adam (Donna) and Elizabeth Wade, Daniel (Anna Mae) Wade, Rebecca (Tigran) Mdivanian, Julia Wade, Christina Ute, Jennifer Ute and Kelli (Cory) Frazier; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Macy, Kennedi, Dylan, Andon, Ava, Julian, Mason Van Ross, Grant, Riley, Carter, Ejheni, Zahven, Yervand, Xander, Max, Gracie, Brookelyn, Brayden, and one great-grandson Colten on the way; step-great-grandchildren, Michaela (Noah) Ketter and Chance (Faith) Barnett; and sister, Naomi Fortney.
In addition to her loving husband, Van Ross Wade, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Iona Elizabeth Miller; siblings, Mary Lou Bedillion, Charles Varner and Bernard Varner; and grandson, Christopher Wade.
A private family service will be livestreamed on the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home Facebook page (facebook.com/BellvilleSFH) at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27. The Rev. Erwin Urschitz will officiate. Public burial will follow in Bellville Cemetery.
Contributions in Shirley’s memory may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Please send checks to P.O. Box 338; Bellville, Ohio.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Shirley’s family and encourages you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
