[KCDXC] Fw: Wade Williams, W0BC - SK

[Chuck Kraly]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "L. S. Staples" <lsstaples@compuserve.com>
To: <Blind.Copy.Receiver@compuserve.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 10:41 AM
Subject: Wade Williams, W0BC - SK


Wade H. Williams Jr.  (W0BC)

Wade H. Williams Jr. passed away peacefully Monday morning, April 21, 2003,
at his Leawood, KS home. Wade joins his beloved parents, Wade and Bertie,
sister, Virginia and Aunt Rose. Wade was born July 18, 1922 in Kansas City.
>From an early age electronics and radio fascinated him. He was a popular
leader in school and like his father played the violin. His father worked
the depression years with the Railway Mail. In 1938, they moved to south
Kansas City where he attended Southeast High School. As a teen Wade loved
cars, motorcycles, model planes, and science fiction pulp stories. He was a
lifelong amateur/short wave radio operator known worldwide by his call
sign. He was a smart, athletic, and handsome self-made man who proudly
served his country in World War II and was honorably discharged as a
Captain in the Air Force. He received a Citation for flying over 1000 hours
over the Pacific routes over enemy territory. In December 1941, he worked
at North American Aviation building B-25 bombers. He persuaded Mary Hawkins
to elope, keeping their marriage a secret. His first son, Wade III, was
born in late 1942. Wade III is a film collector and theater operator. At
Army Air Force Pilot school he graduated with Silver Wings and a citation
for making the highest physical fitness test at the base. Mary worked at an
aircraft plant and Wade was a pilot overseas. One of his passengers was
Irving Berlin, who entertained the troops. Capt. Wade Williams returned
from the war in 1945 with honors and decorations. He opened an electronic
repair shop at 82nd & Wornall called, Home Radio. In the next ten years, he
expanded to a distributorship in other electronic devices. His wife, Mary,
became vice-president of a bank. He played softball and bowled, his team
setting a record at King Louie West. In 1960, his son Bill was born. Bill
worked with computers and raced motorcycles. In 1967 he relocated his
amateur radio store, Associated Radio, to Overland Park. Wade was a
successful man and a legend in the amateur radio business. Family, friends,
and countless world wide amateur radio operators will miss him. His call
sign is a silent key now, but somewhere in the universe his signal is alive
and traveling among the stars. Wade leaves his wife of 61 years, Mary; his
two sons, Wade Williams III of Kansas City and Bill Williams, his wife
Rebecca and granddaughter, Abigayle of Shawnee, KS; and his cousin, Gay
Demmitt of Kansas City. A family visitation and memorial service will be
held at the McGilley & Hoge Funeral Home at 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland
Park, KS. Visitation on Thursday, April 24, from 3:30-8 p.m. and memorial
service will follow. Cremation and private family interment at the family
plot at the Hickman Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, MO. Memorial
contributions may be made to Animal Haven, 9800 W. 67th, Merriam, KS 66203.
(Arrangements: McGilley & Hoge Chapel (913) 642-3565) Published in the
Kansas City Star on 4/22/2003. 

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