Jimmy Franklin Wade
Jimmy Franklin Wade, 83, of Chattanooga, passed away on October 11, 2024.
Jimmy was born in Chattanooga on March 7, 1941, to the late James Eldridge Wade and Edith Mae Slagle Wade. He was a graduate of Chattanooga City High School, Class of 1959. Jimmy met and wed the love of his life, Linda Sue in 1962. He went on to further his education and attended the University of Chattanooga in 1964 and graduated with BS in Industrial Engineering.
Upon his completion of college he enlisted in the United States Army where he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. January 1964. Some of Jimmy’ accomplishments while serving in the army were, attended Army Air Defense School at Ft. Bliss Texas May 1964, assigned to 3rd Missile Battalion, 65th Arty Cleveland Army Air Defense July 1964, assigned duty of Tactical Director in Air Defense Command Post at Warrensville Station, promoted to 1st Lt and Battery Commander of HQ Battery 90th Arty Group in 1965, named "Outstanding Lieutenant" of Cleveland Army Air Defense for 1965. He completed active Duty in May 1966 and was honorably discharged in December 1969 after serving in the reserves.
After he left active duty he joined the workforce where he worked in various capacities such as 3M Corporation May 1966-July 1983- Quality Engineer, Sales Engineer, Marketing Manager, General Electric Ceramics- August 1983- November 1989, Application Engineering Manager, Coors Ceramic Company/Coors Tek- December 1989-September 2001, sales and marketing manager and finally with AdTech Ceramics-2004-2014, as a marketing consultant where he retired from.
Some of Jimmy’s main hobbies and interests included biking (retired), Martial Arts-Bando, Tai Chi, Wing Chung, Chi Kung, pilates, working out, reading, music, military history- Civil War & WWII , spending time with family & walking his dog O'Malley. He was also very active in National Medal of Heritage Center Heritage- executive director (retired)/ Advisory Board - Lifetime Achievement Award, Signal Mountain Lions Club- Melvin Jones Fellow, Prison Prevention Ministries-Teacher, MOAA, Signal Crest United Methodist Church, American Battlefield Trust, and Friends of the Park.
Preceding Jimmy in death was his beloved wife, Linda Sue Nabors Wade, and his aforementioned parents.
Left behind to cherish Jimmy’s memory are his children, Scott (Teresa) Wade and Kelley (Clay) Henley, grandsons, AnDrue (Amber) Potts, Wade, Walker (Hailey), and Will Henley, granddaughters, Laura (Peter) Hagemeyer and Katie (Tim) Kiser, great-grandchildren, Elizabeth & Willa Potts, and Worth & Phillips Kiser, nephews, Wade and Zachery Mansfield, and a sister, Lu Jean (Christian) Wade Bedard.
Services will be held on Monday, Oct. 21, at Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn. 37412, with visitation from 10 a.m. until service time followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 12:30 p.m. He will be laid to rest alongside his wife Linda Sue in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Wade Henley, Will Henley, Walker Henley, Benji Cordell, Wade Mansfield and Zac Mansfield .
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jimmy’s memory can be made to either Hospice of Chattanooga, Prison Prevention Ministries or to the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center Chattanooga.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com
Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn., has been entrusted with the arrangements.