Paul Wade
" My name's Paul Wade, I sit in the shade and stir lemonade with a long handled spade." My grandpa used to tell me, then I would add, I've got it made, cause my name's Wade!" On November 17th, those of us who knew and loved him, will celebrate and reflect upon the life of Paul Wade. Paul was born in the year 1900 in a one room log house with a shed on one side where the family cooked and ate meals. His father was Jasper Carolina Wade , his mother, Berta Adelaide Leake. There little house was near a small town called Chavez, in DeKalb county, Alabama.
When Paul was barely two his family moved to Indian Territory ( which is now Oklahoma) to a little town called Midland. As a Little boy, Paul became very sick with stomach and bowel problems and nearly died.( We’re all glad he didn’t!) Paul’s brother Chester said Paul was cured by eating lots of watermelon!
In 1901, while still in Alabama, on May 26 th, Jasper and Berta were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the result of a vision that Jasper had in broad daylight, of two men dressed in white shirts walking down the Lane to their house. He was impressed that they had an important message for him. It turned out that the two men were Latter-Day Saint missionaries who did come down his lane a few weeks later. Their message was the Book of Mormon and the restoration of Christ’s Church in this dispensation. I believe the two missionaries were Elder Charles A. Howard and Elder J.B. Stocks, who subsequently gave the Wade children blessings that same day- including Paul who was 6 months old at the time.
Paul moved a lot with his family in his youth. His father would hear of a good place to live and then move his family there. From Oklahoma the family moved by train to Bountiful, Utah. Paul’s brother Chester tells us, “ In front of our yard in Bountiful was an irrigation ditch. As children we enjoyed going out there and playing in the water. One day Paul fell into the ditch by the culvert in the road. If it had not been for his Sister Ethel Leotha grabbing his clothes and holding him up out of the water until we could call mother, Paul would have gone under the culvert and probably drowned.”
From Bountiful back to Alabama near Berta’s parents ( grandpa and grandma Leake). A few years in Alabama then on to Bunkersville, Nevada ( that lasted only 3 weeks), then back to Oklahoma, then to Gridley , California where they picked hops for a season. From Gridley to Wheatland, California then back to Oklahoma, back to Bountiful, Utah for a year then back to Oklahoma. Then, on Paul’s 16 th Birthday, November 17, 1916 the family settled in Kelsey, Texas. Susie, ( Paul’s future wife) tells us, “One morning before school started I was standing at the window looking out when I saw 3 new boys. The largest one was red headed. I guessed, without being told, that they belonged to the new family that had just moved in from Oklahoma. I didn’t dream at that time that this particular red headed boy would play such an important part in my life. One night as we were coming down the steps from one of our church meetings, Paul, that red headed Wade boy that I had watched come up the hill to school, asked if he could walk me home. We had been friends, danced a lot together and had fun with the crowd but I was somewhat surprised that he would want to take me home because
I was older than him. After that he came to the Amonette home quite often-but not too often to suit
me! In June of 1920 Paul and I became engaged.” Paul had just finished a 2 year state side church mission and was ready to get serious about choosing an eternal companion and start a family so...
A year later, on June 5,1921 Paul (19) married Susie (26) the love of his life in the Kelsey church house. Susie later reflected, “ I guess the main thing that first attracted me to Paul was his activity in the church. He attended all the church meetings and activities. Prior to marriage as I thought about what kind of husband Paul would be, I knew that he would be good to me and work hard to make something for me to live on. I felt that if we had a family he would help rear them in the church
and that was very Important to me.”
Paul and Susie made their home in Texas where all 9 children ( 5 girls and 4 boys) were born.
Paul loved his children ( and later his grandchildren) He would get down on the floor and romp around with them. He taught us all what he called the “bunny hop.”
Paul had a bit of his father’s nomadic blood in his veins and moved his family a few times as well. From Texas to Mesa , Arizona to Bountiful, Utah. While in Texas, Paul and Susie wanted to have their family sealed in the temple and finally, in 1935 had saved enough for the trip. Pauline recalled,” Dad traded the car that he had at the time and bought a big used truck that he made sides for also a top out of lumber, built a row of seats down each side of the “camper”, cut windows in the side and put a tarp on it so when it rained we could put the tarp down and when the weather was nice we could roll it up. There were other people that also wanted to go. When we finally left Kelsey for Salt Lake City there were 24 people in the truck. We drove straight thru day and night. Dad had put a mattress on the floor of the truck so we could all take turns lying down. Aunt Flora and her family were moving to Salt Lake City so they stayed up there. There were only 14 of us coming back. When we got to Salt Lake the temple was closed for cleaning so we had to go all the way up to the Logan Temple. We all feel like it was worth it.”
In 1941 Paul sold his interest in a dairy farm, ( Leotha and A.B. were no doubt very happy as they did most of the milking for several years) and moved his family to Mesa, Arizona so they could be nearer to a temple, arriving in Mesa on September 13 th . It was LaRee’s birthday and she was 4 years old.
Pauline observed, “When Dad was working on the farm, as a carpenter or custodial work or other places he could come home for his lunch, then after eating he would lie right down on the floor, put his hat up over his eyes to keep the light out and sleep for about 10 minutes, then he would get up and go back to work feeling completely rested.
Regina ( the oldest child) reflected, “ Dad could whistle loud and when he was out in the field and wanted our attention he would whistle. We could hear him for quite a distance and you can know for
sure, we didn’t ignore the whistle!"
Paul loved music and led the music in church in Kelsey,Texas for many years. When his children were older, he had a dream of the Celestial kingdom. The tune and words of a song filled his mind.
He wrote down the words and hummed the tune over and over as his daughters Leotha and LaRee wrote the notes on paper. He eventually printed copies of "The Great Loving King" which he shared with his posterity. That family treasure has accompanied many family missionaries and has been sung in many lands around the world. ( The lyrics and sheet music can be found on FamilySearch.org click on Paul Wade- memories.)
Paul loved to study the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Pauline shared this about her father; " My earliest memory of him is sitting by a kerosene lamp, reading the Book of Mormon with the tears rolling down his cheeks. There was always prayer in our home, and when anyone got sick there were more prayers, fasting and Priesthood blessings. His favorite scripture is 3 Nephi 18:21 which says, "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." and he truly did this every day of his life."
When I (Bruce Wade) was old enough to help drive, I went on a family history trip with grandpa Paul and Grandma Susie back east. It was a wonderful experience for me to get to know my grandparents one on one. We had a lot of time to talk and visit as we drove from state to state. I observed that they loved the Lord, loved their ancestors, loved the temple and especially that they loved each other.
When I received my mission call my parents were both working so it was my Grandpa Wade who took me through the temple for my own endowment. I was able to experience the temple under his tutelage so my experience was a sweet and spiritual one.
As children and then as teenagers, Grandpa Wade shared his love of the savior with us. We would often gather at his feet as he told us scripture stories and bore his tender testimony to his posterity.
Physically, Paul Wade had reddish blond hair and blue eyes. He was about 5"10" tall and weighed around 155 pounds. Spiritually, he was a giant to me!
On May 6, 1991 at 90 years of age, he had a massive heart attach while at his youngest son's home(Louis). I remember as family surrounding his casket in the cemetery and singing "God be with you til we meet again". Tears filled my eyes as we sang the last verse (one written by Leotha and LaRee)
" God be with you 'til we meet again, bind us with a holy token, keep our family chain unbroken, God be with you 'til we meet again!" As I ponder the life of Paul Wade , I can conclude that if each one of us can be as solid of a link in our family chain as was Paul Wade, our family chain will not only stay unbroken, it will be unbreakable!
Much love- The Grandparent Chronicles
 |
| Paul's Mission Photo |
In 1901, while still in Alabama, on May 26 th, Jasper and Berta were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the result of a vision that Jasper had in broad daylight, of two men dressed in white shirts walking down the Lane to their house. He was impressed that they had an important message for him. It turned out that the two men were Latter-Day Saint missionaries who did come down his lane a few weeks later. Their message was the Book of Mormon and the restoration of Christ’s Church in this dispensation. I believe the two missionaries were Elder Charles A. Howard and Elder J.B. Stocks, who subsequently gave the Wade children blessings that same day- including Paul who was 6 months old at the time.
Paul moved a lot with his family in his youth. His father would hear of a good place to live and then move his family there. From Oklahoma the family moved by train to Bountiful, Utah. Paul’s brother Chester tells us, “ In front of our yard in Bountiful was an irrigation ditch. As children we enjoyed going out there and playing in the water. One day Paul fell into the ditch by the culvert in the road. If it had not been for his Sister Ethel Leotha grabbing his clothes and holding him up out of the water until we could call mother, Paul would have gone under the culvert and probably drowned.”
From Bountiful back to Alabama near Berta’s parents ( grandpa and grandma Leake). A few years in Alabama then on to Bunkersville, Nevada ( that lasted only 3 weeks), then back to Oklahoma, then to Gridley , California where they picked hops for a season. From Gridley to Wheatland, California then back to Oklahoma, back to Bountiful, Utah for a year then back to Oklahoma. Then, on Paul’s 16 th Birthday, November 17, 1916 the family settled in Kelsey, Texas. Susie, ( Paul’s future wife) tells us, “One morning before school started I was standing at the window looking out when I saw 3 new boys. The largest one was red headed. I guessed, without being told, that they belonged to the new family that had just moved in from Oklahoma. I didn’t dream at that time that this particular red headed boy would play such an important part in my life. One night as we were coming down the steps from one of our church meetings, Paul, that red headed Wade boy that I had watched come up the hill to school, asked if he could walk me home. We had been friends, danced a lot together and had fun with the crowd but I was somewhat surprised that he would want to take me home because
I was older than him. After that he came to the Amonette home quite often-but not too often to suit
me! In June of 1920 Paul and I became engaged.” Paul had just finished a 2 year state side church mission and was ready to get serious about choosing an eternal companion and start a family so...
A year later, on June 5,1921 Paul (19) married Susie (26) the love of his life in the Kelsey church house. Susie later reflected, “ I guess the main thing that first attracted me to Paul was his activity in the church. He attended all the church meetings and activities. Prior to marriage as I thought about what kind of husband Paul would be, I knew that he would be good to me and work hard to make something for me to live on. I felt that if we had a family he would help rear them in the church
and that was very Important to me.”
Paul and Susie made their home in Texas where all 9 children ( 5 girls and 4 boys) were born.
Paul loved his children ( and later his grandchildren) He would get down on the floor and romp around with them. He taught us all what he called the “bunny hop.”
Paul had a bit of his father’s nomadic blood in his veins and moved his family a few times as well. From Texas to Mesa , Arizona to Bountiful, Utah. While in Texas, Paul and Susie wanted to have their family sealed in the temple and finally, in 1935 had saved enough for the trip. Pauline recalled,” Dad traded the car that he had at the time and bought a big used truck that he made sides for also a top out of lumber, built a row of seats down each side of the “camper”, cut windows in the side and put a tarp on it so when it rained we could put the tarp down and when the weather was nice we could roll it up. There were other people that also wanted to go. When we finally left Kelsey for Salt Lake City there were 24 people in the truck. We drove straight thru day and night. Dad had put a mattress on the floor of the truck so we could all take turns lying down. Aunt Flora and her family were moving to Salt Lake City so they stayed up there. There were only 14 of us coming back. When we got to Salt Lake the temple was closed for cleaning so we had to go all the way up to the Logan Temple. We all feel like it was worth it.”
In 1941 Paul sold his interest in a dairy farm, ( Leotha and A.B. were no doubt very happy as they did most of the milking for several years) and moved his family to Mesa, Arizona so they could be nearer to a temple, arriving in Mesa on September 13 th . It was LaRee’s birthday and she was 4 years old.
Pauline observed, “When Dad was working on the farm, as a carpenter or custodial work or other places he could come home for his lunch, then after eating he would lie right down on the floor, put his hat up over his eyes to keep the light out and sleep for about 10 minutes, then he would get up and go back to work feeling completely rested.
Regina ( the oldest child) reflected, “ Dad could whistle loud and when he was out in the field and wanted our attention he would whistle. We could hear him for quite a distance and you can know for
sure, we didn’t ignore the whistle!"
Paul loved music and led the music in church in Kelsey,Texas for many years. When his children were older, he had a dream of the Celestial kingdom. The tune and words of a song filled his mind.
He wrote down the words and hummed the tune over and over as his daughters Leotha and LaRee wrote the notes on paper. He eventually printed copies of "The Great Loving King" which he shared with his posterity. That family treasure has accompanied many family missionaries and has been sung in many lands around the world. ( The lyrics and sheet music can be found on FamilySearch.org click on Paul Wade- memories.)
Paul loved to study the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Pauline shared this about her father; " My earliest memory of him is sitting by a kerosene lamp, reading the Book of Mormon with the tears rolling down his cheeks. There was always prayer in our home, and when anyone got sick there were more prayers, fasting and Priesthood blessings. His favorite scripture is 3 Nephi 18:21 which says, "Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." and he truly did this every day of his life."
When I (Bruce Wade) was old enough to help drive, I went on a family history trip with grandpa Paul and Grandma Susie back east. It was a wonderful experience for me to get to know my grandparents one on one. We had a lot of time to talk and visit as we drove from state to state. I observed that they loved the Lord, loved their ancestors, loved the temple and especially that they loved each other.
When I received my mission call my parents were both working so it was my Grandpa Wade who took me through the temple for my own endowment. I was able to experience the temple under his tutelage so my experience was a sweet and spiritual one.
As children and then as teenagers, Grandpa Wade shared his love of the savior with us. We would often gather at his feet as he told us scripture stories and bore his tender testimony to his posterity.
Physically, Paul Wade had reddish blond hair and blue eyes. He was about 5"10" tall and weighed around 155 pounds. Spiritually, he was a giant to me!
On May 6, 1991 at 90 years of age, he had a massive heart attach while at his youngest son's home(Louis). I remember as family surrounding his casket in the cemetery and singing "God be with you til we meet again". Tears filled my eyes as we sang the last verse (one written by Leotha and LaRee)
" God be with you 'til we meet again, bind us with a holy token, keep our family chain unbroken, God be with you 'til we meet again!" As I ponder the life of Paul Wade , I can conclude that if each one of us can be as solid of a link in our family chain as was Paul Wade, our family chain will not only stay unbroken, it will be unbreakable!
Much love- The Grandparent Chronicles
Comments
Post a Comment