Johnny B. "Jiggs" Wade

Marietta Monitor

April 18, 2003, p 4

Submitted by: Martha N. Reddout

Graveside services for Johnny B. "Jiggs" Wade, 74, of Thackerville, were held at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 12, in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Thackerville, with the Rev. Dwight Hawkins officiating. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard and VFW Post 1922 - Gainesville Color Guard were also present.

Mr. Wade was born June 12, 1928, at Simon, the son of Johnny Floyd and Nellie May Nipp Wade. He died Thursday, April 10, 2003, in Denton Regional Hospital, Denton, Texas.

He returned to Thackerville to make his home in 1971, when he retired from the U.S. Navy. He and Bevily Pauline Ford were married July 2, 1955, in Gainesville, Texas, and she preceded him in death on February 25, 2001. A graduate of Thackerville High School, he attended Cooke County College in Gainesville, where he studied business administration and agriculture. Mr. Wade retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of LTJG, having served from 1948 to 1971 and in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. During his tenure, Mr. Wade was also stationed at U.S. Naval Bases in San Diego, California and Bremerton, Washington. He was a Master Mason of Thackerville Lodge No. 17, and a member of VFW Post 1922 of Gainesville, where he was currently serving as Service Officer. He raised bucking bulls and enjoyed watching bull riding.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Roy W. and Georgia Wade and Gene and Midge Wade of Thackerville; a brother and sister-in-law, James and Betty Wade of Thackerville; two sisters and brother-in-law, Addie Pryor of Arlington, Texas; and Betty and Charles Whittington of Thackerville; nine grandchildren, Chris Jones, Tammy Morgan, Johnny W. Wade, Blake E. Wade and Jeri R. Wade all of Thackerville, Olivia Chrisman, Yates Center, Kansas, Theresa Wilson, Gainesville, Kimberly Watrous, Southmayd, Texas, and David West, Denison, Texas; and 16 great-grand-children.

Mr. Wade was also preceded in death by his parents; and a grandson, Smokey Robert Wade.

Pallbearers were Joe Hayes, Richard Shivers, Oscar Sutton, Jim Blaisdale, Bill McCord and Bill Kerr. Honorary pall-bearers were members of VFW Hughes Tune Post 1922 of Gainesville.

Services were under the direction of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home, Marietta.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFWPost 1922 Navy Day, Gainesville.