Wade Y. Chandler, Jr., 91, of Hatfield, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the home he built on the morning of December 4, 2020.
He was born June 28, 1929, in Earlington, KY, to Wade and Hettie Chandler. He graduated from Reitz High School in Evansville where he played center for the Reitz Panthers Football team.
Wade worked at International Harvester Company from 1944-1951.
He served in the United States Army from February 1, 1951 to January 16, 1953. He was promoted to Sgt. (T) while serving with Battery A 93 Anti-Aircraft Artillery until his honorable separation January 16, 1953 (93 AAA Gun Battalion: “The Best by Test”). After serving his country, Wade worked as a foreman for L&N Railroad, Sherwin Williams, built homes for Jim Greene and then began working at St. Mary’s where he retired as an Engineering Service Coordinator in 1994.
Wade loved his Savior and was a trustee and deacon at Southside Baptist Church. He enjoyed camping, refinishing furniture, and traveling the US, especially out west. He loved westerns and trains and in his younger years he was mean on roller skates! He was a man of integrity, intelligence, wit, and wisdom, and his smile was infectious. He was his family’s rock and he loved them well.
Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Willa Jean (Woochie); two sons, Randy Chandler (Belynnda) and Christopher Chandler (Sandra); two daughters, Sheryle Knight (Michael) and Tracy Chandler; six grandchildren, Russell Chandler (Christy), Eldena Sapp (Brandon), Me’Chele Fuller (Brad), Mindy Dill (Juan), Caytee Chandler-Pile and Ann Grace Chandler; and seven great-grandchildren, Richard Olsen, Keith Olsen (Courtney), Katelynn and Gavin Chandler, Jordan and Jacob Fuller and Justin Dill.
The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support. A special thanks to Dr. Susan Martin and her staff, Lisa Raker; One Care Nurse, Cardiac Rehab and Nancy, nurse at Gateway Med Surg.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, December 7, at Boultinghouse Funeral Home at 527 Main Street, Rockport, with Pastor Dwight Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery in Richland. Family and friends may visit on Monday, December 7, from 12 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Wade’s service will be lived streamed at www.Zoom.us.
Meeting ID: 392 778 0560
Passcode: chandler
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Joseph’s Indian School at PO BOX 326, Chamberlain, SD, 57326.
