Marilyn Wade

Obituaries

May 13, 2016 - 12:00 AM

Marilyn Louise (Slapar) Wade, 82, passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016, at the Freeman Heart Institute in Joplin. She had lived in Pittsburg all her adult life until November 2014, when her health declined and she moved to Greystone Residential Living Facility in Iola.

She was born on the family farm Nov. 3, 1933, in McCune, to Frank and Stephania (Licci) Slapar. She attended Freed Rural Grade School through sixth grade, McCune Elementary and later graduated from McCune Rural High School in 1951.

Following high school, Marilyn worked for Kelso Seed & Milling Company in Pittsburg, as a secretary and bookkeeper from 1951 until 1955.

On April 24, 1954, she married James Merle Wade at First Christian Church in Pittsburg. He preceded her in death on April 14, 2006. 

Marilyn graduated from the first class of Cosmetology School in 1956 at the Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University). She was very active in the Pittsburg affiliate of the National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association from the beginning of her career and held many offices at the local level and was appointed to many state assignments.

During her 50-year career as a cosmetologist, she attended many seminars and advanced classes all over the country and Europe. She was elected to the post of executive secretary of the Kansas Cosmetologists Association; an appointment that she was particularly proud for serving. She also added additional college credits from Pittsburg State University throughout her lifetime.

Marilyn is survived by her son, James Merle Wade II and his wife, Connie, Wichita, and her daughter, Susan Thompson, and her husband, Rep. Kent Thompson, rural LaHarpe. She also is survived by five grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren and one great-grandchild; Jeremy James Wade and his wife, Jessica, Eugene, Ore., Laura Wade, Miami, Fla., Jennifer Wade, Wichita, Macy, Austin and Samantha Knoblauch, Wichita, Kenna (Thompson) Chesnut and her husband, Mark, and their child, Wade Charles Chesnut, Springfield, Mo., and Kyler Thompson, Pittsburg. Marilyn also is survived by two brothers, Robert (Darlene) Slapar, Eudora, and Dr. Frank Milton (Claudette) Slapar, Pittsburg; one sister, Karolyn (Harman) Hanks, Girard; and several nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

 

A graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Pittsburg, with Pastor Jan Veatch-Yoger officiating. Family and friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service hosted by the Disciplines of Women Fellowship at the First Christian Church on Centennial Drive in Pittsburg. Marilyn loved dogs and had several during her lifetime, and with that the family suggests memorials to the SEK Humane Society or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762, which is in charge of arrangements. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.

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