Joseph F. Wade

Wade, Joseph Francis "Joe", age 89, of Kettering passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2024, with his family by his side. Joe was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He attended Sacred Heart Elem. & Charleston Catholic High School. He later moved to Dayton to attend the University of Dayton. He earned a BS in Accounting, CPA & his MBA at UD.

Joe began his career at the accounting firm, William. S. Fry & Co., while also serving in the Army Reserves. He was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis (Vietnam Era), as a photo lab specialist & radio relay & carrier operator. In 2019, he attended a military honor flight. After he was honorably discharged in 1964, Joe returned to his previous job & quickly became a partner. After celebrating his 25th anniversary at the firm, Joe retired to become an entrepreneur. Among other endeavors, he continued working as a private CPA & investment advisor. Joe had a passion for teaching accounting, investing & financial education. In addition to his full-time job, he taught part-time at UD, Sinclair & Montgomery County JVS. He also designed financial education programs that were used by organizations, with hopes of continuing to use & share this financial wealth of knowledge for free. Joe wrote & presented 175 speeches to 80+ organizations, including eight national seminars/workshops. He was a committee organizer, software contributor to national computer libraries & a contributing writer for national magazines.

Joe was passionate about his lifetime community involvement in local, national and world wide service organizations, which included projects, mission trips and holding offices like treasurer & president. Joe was a Boy Scout for 77 years, earning the three highest awards: Eagle, Silver Beaver and St. George Emblem (highest adult award and highest Catholic adult award), He was in many other organizations: Oakwood Rotary Club/Rotary International-30 yrs perfect attendance, Exchange Club-59 yrs (earned Outstanding Service Club Awards in both groups & the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow award); Engineer's Club, Carvers Guild, AAII-investment club. Knights of Columbus, American Legion-30 yrs, UD Golden Flyers, & Community Blood Center-Century Club member for giving 13 gallons of blood. Joe was also an active member of St. Albert the Great Church & their committees-60 years. His life motto has always been "Service is your rent for your space on earth."

Joe cherished spending time with his wife, Ginny, of 60 years, his family & many dear friends; whether gathered around the dinner table or enjoying activities together, such as game nights, camping/singing around campfire, traveling, museums, bowling, movies, & exercising. He had many hobbies such as investing, record keeping, family tree research, computer and was quite a collector. Joe was an amazing dad and friend to all.

Joe was preceded in death, just a year ago, by his beloved wife, Virginia "Ginny" (Mauch) Wade; his parents, Francis "Frank" & Frances (Gootee) Wade; his stepmother, Stella (Gootee) Wade; & his brother, Bill (Mary Ann) Wade. He is survived by his two daughters & sons-in-law: Lori (David) Moodie of Miamisburg & Sharon (Jonathan) Maurer of West Chester; his son & daughter-in-law, Mark (JoEllen) Wade of Naperville, IL; eight grandchildren: Linda Moodie, Jennifer Moodie, Marisa (Justin) Klan, Sarah Wade, Adam Wade (fiancée Kelly Doran), Noah Maurer, Corie (Zachary) Robbins, & Jordan Maurer; three great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Landon, & Sawyer Klan; & his daughter-in-law, Julie Wade of Warrenville, IL. The family will receive friends & extended family on Wednesday, October 2 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Westbrock Funeral Home (1712 Wayne Avenue, Dayton), & prior to the funeral services on Thursday, October 3 from 11:00-11:45 a.m. at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church (3303 Far Hills Avenue, Kettering). The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 3, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A reception will be hosted by the family following the burial. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oakwood Rotary Foundation (P.O. Box 512, Dayton, OH 45409-0512) or the Dayton Foundation, Account #6250 (envelopes will be available at the funeral home).