William W. Wade 1925-2024

Bill was born May 12, 1925, in Youngstown, the son of Evelyn Morse and Sidney R. Wade Sr.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary Ferranti; his parents; two older brothers, Sidney and James; an older sister, Mary Louise Wade-Wiseman-Roller; and a special niece, Christine Ferranti Dreger of Atlanta, Georgia.

Bill started to work in 1941 as an usher at the Warner Theater in downtown Youngstown. He graduated from South High School in June, Class of 1943, and enlisted in the United States Navy in July of the same year. Bill served in World War II, receiving the Victory, American Area and Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. He attended several naval aviation tech schools and finished his Navy career in Guam in the South Pacific. After his honorable discharge in May 1946, he attended Youngstown State University for two years and went to work at Republic Steel as an instrument repairman until 1953, when he entered the building trades as an elevator constructor. He worked for Otis Elevator for a short time before joining Westinghouse Elevator Company, where he worked until his retirement in 1993.

Bill served as president of the local elevator constructor union and was a representative to the Western Reserve Building Trades Council. Being a lone Republican on this labor board, he was frequently called upon to give bipartisan advice and to arrange meetings with Gov. Jim Rhodes and Mayor Hunter. The respect he received from the council members was beyond measure and resulted in true, solid and lasting friendships.

Following his father’s interest in politics, Bill had the distinction of serving in all three branches of government, serving in the legislative branch as Youngstown 5th-Ward councilman from 1970 to 1976, the judicial branch as jury commissioner from 1991 to 1992, and the executive branch as a member of the board of directors of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District. After serving in council, Bill was elected chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Central and Executive Committee, and by virtue of this office, he served on the Mahoning County Board of Elections. He was a member of the Republican National Committee, the Ohio State Republican Party, member of the Mahoning County Central and Executive Committee and precinct committeeman for over 50 years. For many years, Bill served as vice president of the Mahoning Valley McKinley Club.

Bill was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of Sulgrave Masonic Lodge #696, a member of Mill Creek Senior Golf League, past president of the Protestant church golf league, member of Curbstone Coaches, YSU Penguin Club, past president of Visiting Nurses Association and past president of the Independent Living Association at Shepherd of the Valley, Poland. He was a life member of Amvets, the VFW, the Crime Clinic of Greater Youngstown, and 40-plus-year member of the YMCA, where he was a member of the Christian Life Committee. A lifelong swimmer, he recorded 1,000 miles Nov. 3, 2009, and on Oct. 13, 2014, recorded 2,000 miles.

Bill leaves six nieces and two nephews, with whom he had a special bond, Sue (Steve) Quinn, Jennifer (Scott) McQueen, Karen Ferranti, Linda Ferranti, all of Atlanta, Georgia, Noelle Wade Sakamoto and Beth Wade Delreal of California; two nephews, Garvin Dreger of Atlanta and Dennis Barton of Washington, D.C; he also leaves his brother-in-law, Jack Jennings of Mollusk, Virginia; and many great-nieces and great-nephews in the Atlanta area.

Friends will be received 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 3, 2024, at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market St., Boardman, and 9 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Boardman.

A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the church, with the Rev. Adam Rodgers officiating.

Condolences may be sent to www.beckerobits.com.

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