Lewis Ivey Wade, Jr.

Lewis Ivey Wade, Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 15, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida. The son of the late Lewis Ivey Wade and Betty Jane VanPelt Wade, Lewis was born on March 6, 1954, also in Jacksonville. He spent his formative years in Folkston, Georgia, and Jacksonville, where his great-grandfather, N. G. Wade, founded the N. G. Wade Investment Company. He attended Duncan U. Fletcher High School, transferring his senior year to Oak Ridge Military Institute in Oak Ridge, NC, and later graduating from the University of North Florida.

Lewis was a General Contractor by trade, beginning his career as President/Founder of Geolithic, Inc., and retiring as President/Founder of Old American Company, Inc. He was also a skilled electrician, carpenter, plumber, welder, heavy equipment and 60-ton crane operator, auto mechanic, pilot, and taxidermist, and never turned down an opportunity to use his talents to help anyone at any time. For several years, he received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for countless hours of service designing and building wheelchair ramps, and evaluating home repair needs for the elderly clients of Hart Felt Ministries.

Lewis was a loving, loyal, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, father figure, friend, and servant hearted man of God: a true Southern gentleman. He never knew a stranger and considered it his mission in life to share his love of the Lord with everyone. A brilliant minded and voracious reader, Lewis will be remembered for his love of family and friends, his Georgia Bulldogs, bird watching, golfing with his buddies, camping with Phyllis in their fifth wheel, chemistry, biology, and all things construction.

Preceded in death by his parents, Lewis is survived by his adoring wife of eleven years, Phyllis Luther Wade; children, Benjamin Wade and Elizabeth Waldo; stepchildren, Tracey Warren, John Luther and Frances Roberts; grandchildren, Hunter Bougis, Luke Warren, Ava Roberts, Ryland Roberts and Alexander Roberts; sister Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Wade; nephews, Jonathan Dudley (Erin), Shiloh Dudley (Tess) and Joshua Dudley; and numerous cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 5^th, at the Church of Eleven 22, 14286 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach. A private family graveside service will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery at a later date, where Lewis and Phyllis will share their eternal resting place together. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hart Felt Ministries or to a charity of the donor’s choice.