Jo Ann Wade

Jo Ann Wade
April 15, 1938 - September 7, 2019

Jo Ann Wade, 81 of Wellborn, Texas, passed from this life peacefully on September 7, 2019, surrounded by family. A gathering of friends and family will take place on Friday, September 13, 2019, at 10:00 am followed by a memorial at 11:00 a.m. at Hillier Funeral Home of COLLEGE STATION. Interment will be at Wellborn Cemetery following the service. Mike Ruesink will officiate.

Jo Ann was born and raised in Wellborn, Texas, to Joe Norwood and Hilda Barron. Her childhood was filled with riding horses with her cousin, Leota; raising baby goats and helping her dad garden and tend to the livestock.

Jo Ann graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in 1956. She married Bobby Joe Wade April 12, 1957, and had two children, Keith in 1959, and Kenny in 1965. After graduation, Jo Ann worked at Humble Oil Company at the bend in Bryan, then at Wellborn Water in the 70's, and moved to TAMU Admissions and Records in 1983, retiring after 21 years of service in 2004.

There was never a dull moment in the Wade household, from BBQing to making sausage, tamales, and canning vegetables, friends were plentiful and good times were shared. Thanksgiving and Christmas were especially fun as the whole extended family gathered for the celebrations.

Jo Ann loved to collect Apple knickknacks, shop or browse for treasures or anything "Red", and especially loved buying shoes, clothes and jewelry. She loved to cruise around in her Ford Thunderbird in the 80's and was an avid Western movie viewer.

Jo Ann could be "Bossy and Stubborn", however was very gentle and loving, and sometimes generous to a fault. She loved to raise orphaned baby deer and play cards with family and her friends weekly or go on jaunts to antique stores in different towns around the state. Jo Ann loved to eat BLT sandwiches with extra bacon and was never without a "Coke" anywhere she went.

Jo Ann loved her school classmates and especially enjoyed getting together for their reunions and lunches.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Joe Wade, parents Joe and Hilda Norwood, sister Mary Jane Ryan, brother-in-law Melvin Ryan, brother-in-law Thomas Wade, cousin Leota Straub Smith and her husband John T Smith III.

She leaves her sons, Keith Wade and wife Becky, Kenny Wade and wife Penny; 4 grandchildren, Nathan Wade and wife Jamie, Carla Workman and husband John, Josh Wade, and Zach Wade; and 2 great-grandchildren, Abigail Wade and Weston Wade along with extended family and numerous friends and acquaintances.

Pall Bearers are, Nathan Wade, John Workman, Josh Wade, Zach Wade, Weston Wade, James Lynn Ryan and Abigail Wade.

The family would like to send a special thanks to her caregiver and to the wonderful staff at Hospice Brazos Valley for their attention and care, especially Dina "Love" Anderson.

In lieu of flowers the family would like to request donations be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W 26th Street, Bryan Texas 77803.