W. WADE HOMESLEY
W. Wade Homesley, 94, of Alexandria, Virginia, died May 31, 2023, in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a retired Special Agent of the FBI and a resident of the Mt. Vernon area of Fairfax County since 1966. Wade was born on October 7, 1928 in Cherryville, North Carolina, to John William and Betty Mullen Homesley. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended public school in Cherryville and transferred to Waco School where he met his future wife, Orea Mauney, in the fourth grade. They both graduated from Waco High School, Waco, North Carolina, in 1945 and were married in 1949 at Elizabeth Baptist Church, Shelby, North Carolina.
Wade came to the Washington DC area in July 1945 and began his career with the FBI in the Records and Communication section at the US Department of Justice. In April 1946 he transferred to the Baltimore Field Division where he served as a support assistant while pursuing his education by attending night classes to become a Special Agent. In 1950 he received an Associate of Business Administration degree and in 1953, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Eastern College of Commerce and Law, which later merged with the University of Baltimore. He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in Annapolis in June 1953. In addition, he was admitted to the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, the US District Court for the District of Maryland, the DC Bar, and in November 1958, to the US Supreme Court Bar. In 1970 he was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore.
Wade entered the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, in July 1953, and was initially assigned to the Newark, New Jersey Field Office. He was transferred to New York City Office in late 1955 where he served until his transfer to the Washington Field Office in March 1966. He served there until May 1969 when he was transferred to the newly established Alexandria, Virginia office. Wade’s career with the Bureau spanned thirty-four years with his last five years in the Legal Counsel Division at FBI Headquarters, until his retirement in January 1980. His career with the Bureau was always a source of great satisfaction to him. It was his privilege to participate in some of the FBI’s most celebrated cases of the time period, receiving a number of commendations and awards that were very meaningful to him throughout his lifetime. He served as an usher at the funeral of J. Edgar Hoover held at National Presbyterian Church in Washington in 1972. Wade, his brother Ray, his sisters Helen and Faye, and his brother-in-law, Marion, collectively had over one hundred years of FBI service.
Soon after his retirement he joined the Alexandria Chapter (232) of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). Here he held a number of positions including President, Vice President for Membership, and Public Relations Chairman. He also participated in the Northern Virginia Caucus of Chapters. He served the Virginia Federation of Chapters of NARFE in several capacities including Chairman of the Membership, Auditing, Service Officer Committees. He also served as a member of the VFC Constitution and Bylaws Committee. Wade was a lifetime member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, an organization that works to enhance law enforcement as a profession, maintain the integrity of the FBI for future generations, preserve our form of government, and support the welfare of members of the Society, their family members, and others in need, and promoting education, history, and humanitarian service through scholarships and other programs. He was a member of the Alexandria Civil War Roundtable, the George Washington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Mended Hearts Organization. Having been a resident for 54 years on land that was once part of the Union Farm of George Washington, Wade was a member of the Mt. Vernon’s Neighborhood Friends and a longtime member of the Mt. Vernon Civic Association.
He loved reading, politics, history, and genealogy. His favorite activities included yardwork, visiting museums and historical places. He and Orea enjoyed attending numerous performances at the Little Theater of Alexandria. He lived his life in accordance with the strong upbringing provided by his parents, consisting of respect, honesty, hard-work, family values, and Christian beliefs. He returned often to his native North Carolina where he treasured the memories of the people and places that formed the fabric of his life. Even though he spent most of his life in major metropolitan areas, he never lost the love of the farm and his home town. He loved to talk to other people and sought out engagement opportunities wherever he went. He was articulate on every occasion and found every conversation significant. He loved to tell family stories, especially how he and his brother Ray would check the rabbit boxes.
He was devoted to his family, preferring to focus on their hobbies and activities rather than his own, whether it be his son’s baseball games or daughter’s plays and piano recitals. Of course, he never missed an opportunity to take Orea shopping. His family will always be grateful for his steadfast presence as a husband and father, his advice, and his abiding love for his family.
Wade was predeceased by his parents and seven of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his sister, Helen Hilliard of Cary, North Carolina, his daughter Amy Marie of Virginia Beach, Virginia, his son William Wade (Debbie), his grandson Jonathan, all of Raleigh, North Carolina, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 310 W. Church St., Cherryville, NC 28021, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:00pm. Officiating the service will be Pastor G. Scott Homesley. Visitation will be held at 12:00pm to 1:00pm at the church. Burial will immediately follow at Elizabeth Baptist Church, 301 N. Post Rd., Shelby, North Carolina 28152. A reception will be held following the burial at Elizabeth Baptist Church.
|
