[Qcwa] Wade Williams, W0BC - SK

[L. S. Staples]

Some of you may get this twice, for which I apologize!

Larry (W0AIB)

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Wade H. Williams Jr.  (W0BC)

Wade H. Williams Jr. passed away peacefully Monday morning, April 21, 200=
3,
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 Cit=
y.
=46rom an early age electronics and radio fascinated him. He was a popula=
r
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 hou=
rs
over the Pacific routes over enemy territory. In December 1941, he worked=

at North American Aviation building B-25 bombers. He persuaded Mary Hawki=
ns
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, friend=
s,
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 ali=
ve
and traveling among the stars. Wade leaves his wife of 61 years, Mary; hi=
s
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 6620=
3.
(Arrangements: McGilley & Hoge Chapel (913) 642-3565) Published in the
Kansas City Star on 4/22/2003. =


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