Edgar Wade Belts

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel.
Officiating will be: Rev. Bob Hoehn.
Music provided by: Shirley Forgy - pianist.
Interment will be in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors.
Pallbearers: Paul Thompson, Nelson Galloway, Mark Wise, Kelly Doyle, Dennis Doyle and Steve Chase. Honorary pallbearers: Guy Chase, Leroy Breneman, Vic Davis and Joe Bahr.

Edgar Wade Belts passed away at 11:55 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, Missouri. Wade's mother, Geneva, passed away when he was only four. He was raised by his father and step-mother, Frances Cox Parker and he grew up in the Wellsville area. Wade attended country school and was a 1940 graduate of Wellsville High School. He moved to the Vandalia area in 1941 and started working at the Walsh Refractories near Farber in October of that year. Wade answered his country's call to fight during World War II and joined the U. S. Army Air Force, where he served from December 1942 until January 1946. After returning from the service, he lived in Mexico for a couple years then moved back to Vandalia in 1948. Wade continued working at Walsh Refractories, which became C-E Refractories in the mid-1960s. He retired on May 1, 1978 after nearly 38 years at C-E. Wade started as a laborer and worked his way up to shipping supervisor, production manager, plant manager and was the plant superintendent when he retired. He was a long time member of the Vandalia United Methodist Church and was instrumental in construction of the Vandalia Country Club. Early on, Wade was in charge of the golf course and sand greens as well as the clubhouse and grass greens; served as the first president of the Vandalia Country Club. He and Eddie enjoyed golf and dancing through their senior years and were known to "glide across the floor" when dancing. Earlier in his days, Wade enjoyed playing baseball, softball, golf, dancing as well as visiting with family and friends.

Born: October 25, 1922 in rural Wellsville, Missouri the son of Roy and Geneva (Johnson) Belts.

Married: Doris Chase on January 15, 1944; he then married Edna "Eddie" Marie Gruer Thompson on November 28, 1975; she preceded him in death on November 16, 2011.

Survivors include: two step-sons: Marlin C. and wife, Paula Thompson of Vandalia; Monte and wife, Joyce Thompson of Mexico, Missouri; two step-daughters: Kandace K. and husband, Ron Gasperini of Naperville, Illinois and Karla Thompson of Vandalia; step-grandson, Paul Thompson and several nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; stepmother, Frances Cox Parker; sister, Rosalie Galloway; step-sister, Lola Beabout.

Memorials are encouraged to the Vandalia Country Club.