Earl Wade

BLODGETT, Mo. -- Earl Rice "Junior" Wade, 76, of Sikeston, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

He was born Sept. 23, 1930, at Luxora, Ark., son of Rice William and Anna Lucille Reynolds Wade.

He married Anne Turney Nov. 22, 1957, at Blodgett.

He was employed with Fabick Equiment Co. for over 44 years. He served the Missouri National Guard for more than 13 years. He was a sergeant first class with the 140th, 35th Infantry Division. He earned expert medal awards for carbine, rifle, rocket launcher, machine gun and driver.

He lived most of his life in Sikeston. He was a member of the Blodgett Church of Christ and was a longtime, proud member of the National Rifle Association.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Becky Wade and Aaron and Kelly Wade, all of Blodgett; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Ken Harbin of Paducah, Ky.; four sisters, Christine Rice and Molly Evans, both of Blodgett, Peggi Byrd of Sikeston and Judy Leeming of Mountain View, Mo.; and four grandchildren, Taylor and Jordan Harbin, both of Paducah, and Blake and Katherine Anne Wade, both of Blodgett.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Kelles Wade and Charlie Wade; and a sister, Mary Lucille Wade.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Shady Acres Church of Christ in Sikeston.

Rusty Rice, his nephew and minister of Blodgett Church of Christ; Lowell Blasingame, minister of the Church of Christ in Grenada, Miss.; and Cloyce Sutton of Blytheville, Ark., will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Ted Wade, Tom Wade, Mark Wade, Neal Harlow, Jason Byrd, Shawn Byrd, Scott Singletary, David Bachelor and Bill Knoderer.

Burial will be in the Blodgett Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Missouri Military Honors Program.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.