Wilbur Lee Wade Jr.

04/09/1935 - 06/20/2024

Wilbur Lee Wade Jr., age 89, departed this life and gained his heavenly wings on June 20, 2024.  Born April 9,1935 in Middlesboro, KY, he was the son and first child of Wilbur Lee Wade Sr. and Georgia Wade.

Wilbur (fondly known as June) was a faithful member and deacon of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. He loved reading the bible and singing hymns. June attended Lincoln High School and, in May 1952 at age 18, he joined the US Navy. While in the military, he received an associate degree from a California Community College. In the Navy, he became an aviator and flew as a radar and sonar operator. He was personally proud of that achievement. His
time in the Navy took him to many places such as Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Formosa, and Vietnam. After 25 years of service, June retired from the Navy and began working for FMC Corp. using his knowledge of mechanics to teach military personnel how to work on equipment.

Finally, he retired in 1995 and later moved back home to Middlesboro. June will always be remembered as a gentle, lovable, compassionate, and easy-going person who was a kind friend to all.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his first wife, Michiko Wade; grandmother,  Lucille Gaither; father, Wilbur Wade Sr.; mother, Georgia Wade; stepmother,  Roberta Wade; brother, Ronald Wade; sister, Helen Morris; and in November 2023 his wife, Carol Jean Wade.

June leaves to mourn and treasure his memory: Daughter, Kumi (Thomas) Biscardi of Jeffersonville, IN; grandchildren, Thomas (Alex) Biscardi, Amanda (Zack) Welch, and Jackie Biscardi (all from Indiana); great-grandchildren, Gabe and Josie Welch; brother, Wallace (Frances) Wade of Middlesboro, KY.; sisters, Sandra Fulgham of Knoxville, TN, Lois (Gilbert) Wooten of Lumberton, NC, and Loretta (Walter) Garlington of Middlesboro, KY; nieces and nephews, Wallace Wade Jr., Erik Wade, Jeremy Wade, Rose Donaldson, Vanessa Alexander, Ronald Wade Jr., Michael Wade, Melvin (Butch) Fulgham, Cynthia Fulgham, Tonya Wooten, Robert Wooten, Lonnece Brown; and a host of cousins, grandnieces and nephews, and many friends.

Visitation will begin at 12pm until 1pm, with the service beginning at 1pm at Shumate Funeral Home, 2321 W Cumberland Ave, Middlesboro, KY 40965.