Wade Alvin Snipes, age 94, passed away on October 25, 2024.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Letha Mae Snipes, his wife of 60 years, Annabelle Ludlam Snipes, brother, Bill Snipes, and daughter, Judy Wilkinson.  He is survived by his daughter Sara Cruser (Mel), son-in-law Sam Wilkinson, grandchildren, Wade (Laura) Cruser, Jennifer Cruser (RJ Hartman) , Matthew Wilkinson, great- grandchildren Talia and Aidan Cruser, and Roselyn Hartman.

Wade grew up in Marion, SC, attended Clemson University, Wofford College, and received a BS in Economics from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.

He enlisted in the Navy ONE Year EV program in 1948. During the Korean Conflict, he joined the US Marine Corps, serving at Parris Island, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC, and Camp Pendleton, CA.

After college, he worked in banking, insurance, real estate sales, and pharmaceutical sales.  He was employed by Sonoco Products Company for 23 years in their Consumer Products Division, Personnel Division, Textile Beam Division, and Corporate Marketing Research.

Wade was active in numerous church, civic, and social activities.  He was a volunteer reader for a second-grade class at North Hartsville Elementary School and a past member of the Board of Visitors at Coker College.  He was a member of St. Luke Methodist Church in Hartsville for 32 years.  He enjoyed reading, bridge, dancing, tennis, biking, and running for many years.  After retiring he fished with retirement friends along the SC and NC coastlines and the St. Johns River in Florida.

Wade was a charter member of the Staff Toastmasters Club, Oceanside, CA.  He was also a member of the Hartsville Country Club, Hartsville Shag Club, YMCA, Parker Rotary, Columbia Jaycees, and other business associations.

“Daddy Wade” to his grandchildren, he spent countless hours taking them to his favorite places, teaching, telling stories, showing them off to his friends, and making sure they knew how proud he was of them.  Every moment was special with Daddy Wade.  Possessing a knack for humor and genuine inquisitiveness, Wade could make a friend out of any stranger.  Because he was so caring, kind, and funny, he became everyone’s favorite person wherever he went.

Wade and Annabelle moved to the UMC Manor, Florence, SC in 2007.  After Annabelle’s death in 2011, he moved to Virginia Beach in 2017 to be near his daughters.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Memorial donations may be made to Spring Branch Cemetery (Marion, SC), American Cancer Society, or  Alzheimer’s Association.