Wade Gilliam

Wade Gilliam FREESTONE COUNTY-On Jan. 28, 2015, Wade Gilliam was called home to be with his Lord at the age of 97. He was born on Dec. 30, 1917, in Freestone County, Texas, to Robert Stanley and Ida Bell Sandifer Gilliam. After graduating in 1934 from Donie High School in Donie, Texas, he received a scholarship to attend Draughon's Business College in Dallas, Texas. Upon completion of Draughon's business administration program, he went to work with the Sherwin-Williams Company (S-W) where he began a 44-year-long career until his retirement in 1981 as a respected, successful and accomplished executive. In 2013, at the age of 95, Wade was honored to meet with the Chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams at S-W headquarters in Cleveland, OH, where his company history was videotaped. (You may view this interview by visiting: http://youtu.be/lVYd-6gvP1I) Wade served honorably in World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy, and his service aboard the USS Cleveland in the South Pacific introduced him to lifelong friends. He and his family attended the annual USS Cleveland reunions for many years and hosted the 2009 reunion in Grapevine, Texas. Wade's WWII service history is documented at the Library of Congress Veterans History Project website. After returning from the war, he met the love of his life, Effie Jean Cobble. The two were married on April 2, 1948, while living in Lubbock, Texas. He was a proud member of the Knights of Pythias and the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan as well as a Master Mason. Wade was active in the Broadmoor Baptist Church of Shreveport, LA, where he and Jean made their home for almost 20 years before moving to the Dallas area where they became members of the Church at the Cross in Grapevine, Texas. Wade is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jean Gilliam, who held him in her arms as he passed from this world; two loving daughters, Judy Gilliam Ward and Sonya Jean Gilliam, both of Richardson, Texas; his sister, Bobbie Huffman of Austin, Texas; his brother, Glyn Gilliam and wife, Martha, of Graham, Texas; his sisters-in-law, Beulah Gilliam of Donie, Texas, and Lucille Gilliam of San Angelo, Texas; his half-sister, Robbie Faught of San Angelo, Texas; his grandchildren, Jennifer Scheland and husband, Greg, of Bartlesville, OK, Jordan Powell and wife, Angaleena, of Nashville, TN, and Lindsey Stewart of Charleston, SC. Wade was the proud great-grandfather to William Wade Scheland, Andrew Parker Scheland, John Hayden Scheland and Jed Robert Locke, and is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Stanley Gilliam, Sr. and Ida Bell Sandifer Gilliam; his brothers, Noel Dwayne Gilliam, Cloner Gilliam and Robert Stanley Gilliam, Jr.; and his sisters, Adrid Bell, Vernis Strawn, and Gay Mew. Wade had the heart of a true servant and blessed all those in his company with his remarkable intellect, quick wit, and keen sense of humor, even far into his senior years. Above all, he was a loyal, dedicated husband and father and a God-loving, faithful man whose quiet kindness and generous spirit will be missed by all who knew him. Funeral services and interment were conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, in the Union Cemetery, Freestone County, Texas, with Pastor Barry Boatright officiating. Arrangements were made under the direction of Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home, Mexia, Texas. Pallbearers were nephews, Bob Bell, Joe Strawn, Bill Strawn, Dwain Gilliam, Steve Gilliam, John Gilliam, Rick Huffman, and Russell Gilliam. Donations may be made in Wade's memory to the charity of your choice, and tributes and condolences may be offered via the Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home website: www.blair-stubbs.com.