Thomas L. “Tom” Wade passed away at his home on November 22, 2021, age 79, surrounded by family. Tom was a proud union member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 653 in Centralia for 55 years. Tom Spent his working career as a pipefitter and welder. Tom loved reading, collecting books, traveling, caring for his bird and squirrels, and loved his wife’s cooking, especially her pies. Tom would want his loved ones to shed no tears, because he lived a good life surrounded by his family and doing the things he loved.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 27, 2021, at the Irvin Macz Funeral home in Odin with Pastor Seth Baltzell officiating where those in attendance will be asked to wear a mask. Interment will follow at Peaceful Valley in Odin. Friends are welcome to a visitation time to offer condolences to the family from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Tom requested that in lieu of flowers, that you would donate to Shriners Children’s Hospital or the Cherokee Nation to continue to honor his Cherokee heritage. Online condolences and memories of Tom may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page. Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Odin is privileged to be assisting the family of Tom Wade with arrangements.
Tom met the love of his life, Sandy on a blind date, set up by close friends. Tom and Sandy were married for almost 58 years. Family brought Tom the greatest joy and were his number one priority. Tom will be remembered as a loving, generous and a supportive husband to Sandy, father to Angie Ballantini and husband Terry of Bloomington, Illinois, Lisa Wade and Jeffrey Hawkins of Lawrenceville, Illinois; grandfather to Tiffany and Dan Wilder, David Simmons, Breanna and husband Jeremy Roberts, Taylor Lancaster, Luc Ballantini, Katelyn Hawkins; great-grandfather to Chelsey Wilder, and Samantha Wilder; brother to Richard Wade, and Ronnie Wade, Virginia Dailey, Linda Agnew, and Theresa Spitler; and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Vivian and Tom Culver. Tom was then lovingly adopted by Carl and June Wade, after the death of his mother. Tom was preceded in death by both his parents; and his infant son Thomas Wade Jr.
