Wade Lapsley Edwards

Edwards Durham - Wade Lapsley Edwards passed away March 3, 2015 at Duke University Medical Center. He was 93 years old. Born in Greensboro, NC on August 11, 1921 to the late Charles Newton Edwards and Lula Ruth Farmer Edwards, Wade is survived by a daughter, Donna Nixon of Winston-Salem, a son, Gary Edwards and wife Kathryn of Wake Forest, and two granddaughters, Chloe Edwards of Alexandria, VA, and Emily Edwards of Wake Forest, NC. He is also survived by his cherished friend, Maxine Kirk of China Grove, NC. Wade graduated from Mathew Whaley High School in Williamsburg, VA in 1938. He attended Wake Forest College until WWII intervened, enlisting alongside his brother Charles in the US Navy in 1942 as a Radioman. He served on several ships including the USS Olambala, which was part of the D-Day invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944. During his Navy service, he also sang baritone in the US Navy choir. In 1951, Wade began his 30 year career at Western Electric Company where he was a Computer Development and Business Methods Engineer. Among his many accomplishments were being selected as a member of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers. During this time he also completed his college education in Psychology and Philosophy from Wake Forest College, earning his degree in 1957. Upon his retirement from Western Electric in 1981, he worked in various positions that piqued his interest, including sales at Parks Chevrolet, and also as a realtor at Lambe-Young Realty. Wade enjoyed travelling around the state meeting many new friends and enjoying his retirement. He especially enjoyed the company of his dear friend Ms. Maxine Kirk, who joined him on his many travels. Truly a man who never met a stranger, Wade will be missed by his family and many friends across the state who he shared his life with. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday March 8, 2015 at Red Bank Missionary Baptist Church at 8104 Red Bank Rd, Germantown, NC. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 2:00-2:45. The Family would like to thank the staff at Emerald Pond Senor Living in Durham, NC for their kindness and care. Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Edwards family. Online condolences can be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com.