Betsy Wade (Hill)

Published 6:00 am Friday, July 19, 2024

OWENSBORO – Betsy Hill Wade, 88, died on July 10, 2024 in Owensboro, Ky. She was born to Bess VandeLinde Hill and Carlos V. Hill on Feb. 16, 1936 at home in Lory, W.Va.

Betsy graduated from Scott High School in Danville, W.Va., where she played basketball.

Her first job was in the finger print division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Alderson Broaddus College (AB) in Philippi, W.Va., where she met Warren Wilson College transfer student, Thomas M.L. Wade. Betsy and Tom wedded Sept., 5, 1957 in Lory and were married 63 years when he died in 2021.

In addition to the FBI, Betsy enjoyed a variety of careers including bookkeeper; tobacco pool federal purchasing agent; Balloons Over Owensboro; and director of the Owensboro Alliance on Mental Illness, from which she retired.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brother, William M. Hill; her foster daughter, Judy McDaniel Bolender; and her chosen sister, Janice Smith Payne.

Betsy is survived by daughters, Debi Wade Jordan (Russell Fredrick) of Philpot, Pam Wade Kenner of Crossville, Tenn., and Sara Wade Abell (Ronnie Abell) of Owensboro. Also surviving are her grandchildren Bartholomew Wade Kenner (Melissa Kenner) of Linwood, Kan., Thomas “Ted” Gray of Philpot, Christopher Martin Abell (Kelsey Atteberry) of Owensboro, Bailey Joanna Jordan Warner (Chase Warner) of Bowling Green, Leah Elizabeth Abell of Owensboro, and Emilee Milburn Pierson of Allen, Tex.; along with six great grandchildren, two nieces, a nephew, son-in-law B.J. Jordan of Bowling Green, and her beach and family camp families.

Visitation will be 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 3, 2024 with a celebration of life at 3 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church at 426 St. Ann St., Owensboro.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in her name to Hospice of Western Kentucky or Puzzle Pieces of Owensboro.

Online messages of condolence may be made at www.davisfuneralhome.com.