Mrs. Virginia Mae Wade's Obituary
Virginia Mae "Hink" Cunningham Wade, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, granny (as known by her grandchildren) and gamma (as known by her great-grandchild) passed away on January 22, 2012, after "fighting the good fight", having suffered a heart attack on January 17, 2012. Born to Delmar Wade and Nancy Isabel Cunningham, Virginia was the second oldest of four children. She is preceded in death by her father, mother and brother. She is survived by her two younger sisters Barbara Sue Smith and Mary Jane Dyer. She was born February 5, 1945, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Virginia touched the life of every person she knew from the cashiers in every store she frequented to her brothers and sisters in Christ at the Westside Church of Christ. It is, however, her family that will miss her deep love, her gregarious personality and her generous smiles the most. She was never in a rush, instead making the time to listen to all with whom she came in contact. She gave of her life to all she knew. Virginia graduated Ravenswood High School in 1963. She was the editor of the school paper, and a member of the Future Nursing Association and Latin Club. She was also the Grand Worthy Advisor of Rainbow Girls and had 12 years of perfect attendance at the Evangelistic United Brethren Church in Ravenswood, West Virginia. On October 26, 1963, Virginia married her high school sweat-heart Leslie E. Wade, Jr. He was the love of her life for 48 years and survives her. As she provided support and encouragement to her hubby in attaining his doctorate degree at the University of Texas in Austin, she gave birth to three of the greatest joys of her life. Leslie E. Wade, III, Melinda Ann Wade Howell, and Elizabeth Kay Wade all survive their mother. She unselfishly loved and devoted herself to her children. As a homeroom mother, team mother and PTA president, she supported her children in their education, striving to ensure that we each knew the value that lay within ourselves. Yet more importantly, she loved her children and taught them how to love.
Only after her youngest child began high school would she further demonstrate her love for education by following her dream of becoming a nurse. In 1986, she graduated with an Associate in Applied Science. She worked at hospitals in Corpus Christi, TX, as a recovery nurse, floor nurse and IV nurse. Her love for her patients motivated her to provide the highest medical care together with a healthy dose of compassion. Her love for education and nursing merged when she became employed by Massey Business College as the director of the Certified Nursing Assistants program. Her passion for nursing was contagious. She passed on her desire for quality and kindness to her students who often then established a sense of personal pride in their accomplishments. However, her tenderness toward the elderly led her to become Director of Nursing at Trinity Towers in Corpus Christi, Texas. She, along with her staff, provided care and a sense of dignity to adults who had lost the ability to care for themselves. She gave her heart to every patient as though each was a member of her own family. While following her own dream of nursing, she supported each of her three children in pursuing their dreams of receiving university degrees. In the same style as their mother, they are currently serving their respective communities in education and ministry. During this time, she was blessed to have five grandchildren: Leslie E. Wade, IV, Michael Andrick Wade, Patrick Tyler Wade, Jacqueline Paige Pakrovsky, and Nikita Alan Howell. Her energy and love flowed through her children to her grandchildren. She never missed an opportunity to let each of them know they were loved and valued. Granny will assuredly remain in the heart of each of her grandchildren as a guiding force in their lives. She will always be missed. In 2000, she suffered renal failure and was forced to leave her life-long passion for nursing. Following the true spirit of her mother, Elizabeth Kay Wade donated a kidney to her mother in order to save her life. For over 10 additional years, all with whom she came into contact enjoyed the presence of Virginia's enduring spirit. In 2004, after years of serving her Lord and Savior, Virginia fully gave herself to her Lord, Jesus Christ in baptism at the Westside Church of Christ in Houston, TX. She looked forward to singing hymns with her brothers and sisters in Christ. She continued to selflessly give of herself to every member of her congregation - a true sister to all and stranger to none. She looked forward to the day that she would be walking hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ. In 2008, she was blessed yet again by the birth of a great-grandchild, Addisyn Paige Wade. The two were inseparable. Gamma enjoyed reading stories, cuddling and bestowing her love upon her precious Addie. Neither the discomfort she felt nor the pain she suffered in her final years prevented Virginia from giving herself to every mortal spirit she met. She was the epitome of selfless love. Her family and friends will continue to love and cherish every moment with which they were blessed knowing that she is in the hands of her Lord walking among the angels in heaven just as she walked as an angel amongst us. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of dedicated doctors and nurses at Memorial Hermann Southeast and the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital for providing care and comfort to her during her final days. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:00pm at the Westside Church of Christ, 6203 Broadway, Pearland, Texas 77581 followed by a brief fellowship meal. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the National Kidney Foundation. NKF Serving Southeast Texas, 12620 FM 1960 W. Ste A4 #578, Houston, TX. 77065-5365.
What’s your fondest memory of Virginia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Virginia?
Share a story where Virginia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Virginia you’ll never forget.
How did Virginia make you smile?