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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Robert Joseph
Wade
January 22, 1945 – March 11, 2021
Obituary
Robert Joseph Wade
January 22, 1945 - March 11, 2021
Bob was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1945. During his childhood he lived with his family in Chicago, Lombard, IL and Westfield, NJ. He attended Jacksonville University, FL and graduated in 1969. He served as a National Guard Reserve Green Beret from 1967 to 1969. After graduation from college he married and moved to Clermont, FL.
At 25 years old, the youngest Ford dealer in the US, Bob built and operated Bob Wade Ford. People in central Florida in the 1970's, 80's and 90's remember the catchy " Bob Wade Ford" television commercials with Jungle Bob, celebrity impersonations and white tiger cubs from Bob Baudy's Savage Kingdom. The dealership was popular and successful for over 25 years. This was due, in large part to his unending customer service.
Very active in the Clermont community, Bob served as the President of the Rotary Club, and President of the Chamber of Commerce multiple times. Between 1987 and 2003 he was appointed to the 5th District Court of Appeals on the Judicial Nominating Committee. Bob always looked forward to his dinner meetings on the South Lake Hospital Board of Trustees, from 2000 to 2007. In all those years, he only missed one meeting, which was so typical of Bob; he was reliable, caring, dependable and never missed an opportunity to help someone he knew who was in need.
Bob farmed his citrus groves and grew watermelons. For a short time he owned the drive-in on the corner of highway 27 and 50, close to what is now the Clermont Oyster Bar. He loved to fish: he owned two charter fishing boats in Costa Rica which gave him another excuse to travel and fish. He owned and operated the old Florida Motel on Highway 27 and the Stonebridge Campground and RV Resort in Maggie Valley North Carolina.
In recent years, as Clermont grew, he committed to spending 10 minutes talking to an "old timer" that he would bump into, catching up on old times, orange groves and how things have changed in South Lake. He was a pioneer in "out of the box" thinking creating inventions, developing shopping centers on sloping hills, building hotels: he had no limits. He loved making a deal better than anything else, in any form. He was a master negotiator at Renninger's Market or in Europe or South Africa." If one is good, 5 is better" was his motto. He travelled the entire world, loved his family and friends and went to great lengths to make sure everyone was cared for. Bob will be missed by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his wife Deborah Hyams Wade, stepdaughter Katherine Madison Guerin (Clay Guerin), stepson Christopher George Schubert, estranged children Jennifer Wade Smith and Clinton Robert Wade, his siblings Randi Wade Purchia (Michael James Purchia), Michael Steven Wade and Patricia Ann Fravel, and loving nieces Chelsie Marie Cooper (Matthew David Cooper), Megan Fravel Gunvaldsen (Frederick Charles Gunvaldsen), and Ashley Nicole Fravel. Bob was predeceased by his parents Robert Joseph Wade and Dorothy Lou Wade.
A Celebration of Bob's life will be held at a later date to be announced.
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