Alice A. Wade's Obituary
Alice Wade, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend passed peacefully at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, Washington following complications from a spinal fracture. Alice was 89 years of age and went to her reward with family at her bedside. Alice moved to Tacoma in 1943 to be near her aunt and contributed to the war effort in true "Rosie the Riveter" fashion working in the Tacoma shipyards until wars' end. She married returned veteran Garland Wade in 1948 and began raising her own family, three boys, Daniel, Steven and Byron each 13 months apart. In 1951 the Wade family moved to the 4 bedroom house in Tacoma Hilltop neighborhood where she resided for the next 58 years. Beside managing the household and her four boys, Alice worked outside the home holding jobs at Harmons Furniture, Bell Telephone, JC Penneys and Wonder Bread Bakery. She was known and loved by generations of Hilltop residents and her customers simply as "the Wonder Bread Lady".
Alice is survived by sons Daniel (Ivy) and Byron (Miki), sisters Francis Arusell, Mary Ann Michelson, Cleo Bender and brother Richard Eckart, grandchildren Marisa Kelley and Dylan Wade, great grandchildren Elisa, Emily, Lauren and Cealan and her extended family of loving friends and associates. Alice was preceded in death by husband Garland, son Steven and sister Dorothy Dockter.
Memorial services to be held Thursday July 2, 2009 at 6:30pm at First Christian Church, 602 N. Orchard St., Tacoma, Wa. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to your favorite charity in memory of Alice Wade. Please sign the online memorial guest book at www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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