Ralph F. Wade, Sr.

Ralph F. Wade, 92, of Cottage Grove, Oregon and formerly of McPherson, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, Oregon

He was born August 29, 1919, in Conway, Kansas, the son of Froland W. and Ethel Blanche (Haulman) Wade. He was one of three children born to the family. Around the age of five, Ralph was stricken with Polio. His parents took him to Kansas City for two surgeries and gave him physical therapy at home so he would be able to walk again.

Ralph went to school in Conway, Kansas and graduated from McPherson High School in 1939. After high school, he went to Brown Mackie Business School in Salina.

On August 31, 1944, he married Alma T. Retter in Pueblo, Colorado. She preceded him in death on December 26, 2000.

Ralph worked for Elton Lobban Motors in McPherson in the accounting department for a while before moving to Park City, Kansas to work for Boeing. He always loved Colorado and decided to move the family to Denver. He then went to school to learn shoe repair and started his own shoe repair store. He loved this business and enjoyed visiting with all of his repeat customers for well over 30 years.

After retirement and the death of Alma, he moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon to spend his later years with his friends there.

Survivors include: two sons, Ralph F. Wade, Jr. of Edgewater, CO and Terrance Wade (Ann) of Longmont, CO; two sisters, Vivian Clark and Catherine McCartney, both of Wichita, KS; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, February 6, at McPherson Cemetery. Private family visitation will take place prior to the service. Memorial donations may be given to a charity of the donor's choice in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home.