Anne (Paton) Wade, 100

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Anne (Paton) Wade, 100, of Cincinnati, OH, died on Sunday, April 12, 2020, at her home at The Bridgetown Rest and Rehabilitation Center.

Funeral services will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Wade was born on Feb. 27, 1920, in Hillsboro, to Sam and Agnes Paton. She married John B. Wade on July 1, 1944, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, and he preceded her in death.

The youngest daughter, she grew up living in the former farm house on the Hillsboro High School campus. While growing up, she and her friends had a club in which they would put on performances in the old high school auditorium so they could raise money for Old Settlers Days. When they weren’t doing that, they spent many hours playing in the woods behind the VoAg building on campus.

Mrs. Wade graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1937, and attended Carthage College, graduating in 1942. She was active in drama, dancing, choir and cheerleading. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro.

After college, she taught for several years in Coffeen and in the Hillsboro School District.While her husband served in World War II, she continued living on the school campus property with her parents. Following the war, she and her husband moved to San Diego, CA.

During a trip back to Hillsboro, her husband was hired by the school board as a teacher and coach, and they settled in her hometown.

While in Hillsboro, Mrs. Wade was very active in community and church groups, including the Little Theater Group. Her husband became the manager of the Eagle Picher Smelter, which led him to being transferred to a succession of plants around the country. 

In each town, she became involved in numerous community, church and service groups, including Women’s Clubs, Newcomer and Welcome Wagon, and served as a leader in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Her family eventually settled in the Cincinnati, OH, area. Following her husband’s retirement, the couple enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and overseas, particularly to the United Kingdom, and made several trips to Scotland, where she found distant relatives.

Mrs. Wade and her husband also enjoyed get togethers with fellow alumni of Carthage College, and held many gatherings around Illinois, the highlight being attending the University of Illinois/Ohio State football games in Champaign or Columbus. They particularly enjoyed visiting their five grandchildren and eventually their great-grandchildren.

She had a particular zest for life, spontaneous sense of humor and enjoyed being with people until her death. She could still do her cheers from Hillsboro High School and Carthage College and could break into cheer at the slightest request, particularly from her grandchildren and nursing home staff.

Mrs. Wade was a woman of deep faith, something she learned from her mother, and being a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro growing up. After taking dancing lessons while growing up in Hillsboro, she took great interest in dance, often teaching as well. She was very proud of being a Hillsboro native and often dreamed of returning for Old Settlers. She still considered Hillsboro her home and received The Journal-News until her eyesight failed. She periodically visited the area to visit family and friends.

She is survived by her children, James S. of Liberty Township, OH, John Phillip of Napoleon, OH, Cynthia Wade and Janie Wade Spille, both of Cincinnati, OH; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three nephews including Charles Moody of Hillsboro; and two nieces.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Wade was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, the Rev. Hugh Paton and James Paton; three sisters, Jean Patterson, Elizabeth Moody and infant twin, Agnes; and niece, Beverly Griffin.