Bernard Wade

Bernard Leon Wade, 95, died Sunday, February 10, 2013 at his home in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Bernard Wade was born October 25, 1917 in Akron, Ohio to Marshall and Elizabeth Pritchard Wade. He was the first of six children. As a young boy growing up with dirigibles, blimps, and gliders in the air, his love and passion for flying was born. He dreamed of flying and owning his own plane. He was a regular at the Akron Airfield where he first met Joe and Howard Funk. After graduating from Akron East High School in January, 1936, one of his first jobs was as Chief Pilot for the newly formed Akron Aircraft Company, flying the first Funk prototype. His trips to Elmira, New York to participate in the National Soaring Contests were annual events in his late teens. He ultimately worked nearby in Buffalo, NY at Bell Aircraft as an inspector.

Bill and Ray Jensen were well established in the oil field pumpjack business in Coffeyville and were convinced the city needed an aircraft company to compete with the growing aviation industry in Wichita, Kansas. The Funks and Jensens agreed to a fourway partnership and the business was moved to Jensen Field in South Coffeyville in 1941.
Soon after, Bernard was asked by the Funk Brothers to join them. Bernard followed his love of aviation to Coffeyville, where he also found the love of his life, Effie Jo Jensen, who just happened to be the boss daughter. They were married on October 15, 1943 and celebrated 67 happy years together, until her death on March 25, 2011. Together they raised two sons, Dick and Bill Wade.

The Funk Aircraft Company grew and ultimately produced 365 Funk airplanes of which more than 200 remain flying today. The Funk FlyIn still occurs in Coffeyville every summer with numerous Funk airplanes flying in from all over the country. The company after a disastrous fire at the plant in South Coffeyville in 1954 moved to Coffeyville and ultimately switched to building transmissions and power takeoffs for the tractor and construction industries.

Bernard was active in the management of Funk Manufacturing for more than 40 years. It was a major employer for the City of Coffeyville, a feat of which he was very proud. The organization grew to 1500 employees, selling products world wide. The financial achievements of meeting his management goals allowed the company to join the New York Stock Exchange through the merging with Blue Chip members, first GardnerDenver Corp., and then Cooper Industries. It later merged again with John Deere, as it is known today. He retired in 1981, as President, after seeing many of his dreams of a large manufacturing company for the city of Coffeyville realized. He also served as Executive Vice President of Jensen International.

During WWII, Bernard joined the United States Navy and served as a Naval Officer with distinction. He received his Wings at New Orleans and was stationed at a number of Navy Bases. He spent most of his active duty as a Flight Instructor at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. He was discharged from Active Duty in 1946 and from the Naval Reserve in 1954.

Bernards love of Coffeyville and strong desire for it to grow and prosper led him to be active in many civic affairs. He was a Lifetime member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Order of Eastern Star, and Mirza Shriners. He served the city as a member of the School Board, Urban Renewal Commission and was President of the Coffeyville Country Club in 1971. A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, he served on the Finance Committee and other areas. He participated in activities of American Legion and Coffeyville Rotary for many years. He was a member of the Funk Aircraft Owners Association, OX5 Aviation Pioneers, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Soaring Society of America.

One of his proudest moments came in 1999 when he and other Coffeyville aviation pioneers opened the Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum. It is dedicated to Coffeyvilles rich aviation history. He served as its first President and remained on the Board of Directors until his death.

Bernard was preceded in death by his wife, Effie Jo and brother John Wade, of Virginia Beach, Virginia and sister Dorothy Wade, of Akron, Ohio.

Survivors include sons, Richard L. Wade and wife Susan of Redmond, Washington William R. Wade and wife Beverly of The Woodlands, Texas. He is loved by his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Tracy Wade Strand and husband Barry of Seattle, Washington Brian Wade and wife Maija of Seattle, Washington Allison Wade Hess and husband Jeremy of Edmond, Oklahoma. Great Grandchildren who adored him are Garrett Lee Strand, 14, Grady Wade Strand, 11, Marshall Lee Wade, 4, and Ryker Talon Wade, 1.

He is also survived by two sisters: Geraldine Richards of Cincinnati, Ohio and Joan Stokes of Akron, Ohio and one brother, Leroy Wade of Wellington, Ohio.

A memorial service will be held in Coffeyville, Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 11:00am under the direction of the FordWulfBruns Chapel and Chaplain Mike Graham of Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials may be given to Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum.

The Wade Family would like to thank Comforting Angels for their kind and loving care of Effie Jo and Bernard during the last few years.