In Memory Of Preston Austin (Pres) Wade

30th January 1920 – 18th June 2009

This memorial website was created in the memory of Preston (Pres) Austin Wade, born in Andover, MA on the 30th January 1920 and passed away on the 18th June 2009, 89 years of age.

Biography

Full Name: Preston Austin (Pres) Wade

Born: 30th January 1920

Passed Away: 18th June 2009

Age: 89 years of age

Location: Lincolnville, Maine

Country: The United States

Spouse: Doris Lawson

Father: Austin Wade

Mother: Grace Bettinson

Birth Place: Andover, MA

Siblings: Dorothy Fowler, Constance Gregg

Occupation: Engineer

Memorial Links

This memorial was created by Justin on 19 Jun 2009(update)

LINCOLNVILLE (June 23): Preston “Pres” Austin Wade, 89, died June 18, 2009, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center after a brief illness.

Born in Andover, Mass., on Jan. 30, 1920, he was the son of Grace E. Bettinson and Austin P. Wade. He was educated in Andover schools and was a graduate of Punchard High School.

After earning an engineering degree at Tufts University in 1942, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as an ensign and assigned to a PT boat training group in North Carolina. There he trained others in preparation for the beach invasion of Japan. Later, he was transferred to the USS Wheatland and was at Pearl Harbor when news came of the end of the war in the Pacific. He spent another year aboard the Wheatland transporting troops and supplies to Japan, including one very important cargo load of beer for the troops from Seattle. He was honorably discharged in 1947 as a Navy lieutenant.

In 1948, Preston began his career with American Steel and Wire, a division of U.S. Steel Corporation. As a metallurgist, he provided technical and sales support for various steel products from the Worcester office.

In 1954, he married Doris Hildegard Lawson in Winchester, Mass. The couple lived for most of their married life in Holden, Mass., where Preston later became a Mason and a member of the Shriners. In addition, he also followed with great interest the Boston Red Sox. Preston, with his wife, Doris, who predeceased him in 1994, enjoyed visiting Hawaii, fell in love with the islands and returned many times.

An avid hobbyist, he had a high-tech interest in electronics. He enjoyed building televisions, weather stations, and other Heath Kit products. He followed in the footsteps of his father, A.P. Wade, a respected photographer of the late 1800s in Lincolnville, and enjoyed developing his own slides and prints from film.

Preston is survived by his sister, Dorothy Louise Fowler, 97, of Camden; his sister Constance Virginia Gregg, 95, of Sarasota, Fla.; his nephews Steven Gregg of LaMasa, Calif. and Alan Fowler of North Reading, Mass.; his nieces, Judith Wolff of Sarasota, Fla., Susan Shinn of Canaan, N.H., and Shirley Remsen of Rockport, Maine; as well as many great and great-great nephews and nieces. Preston is also survived, on his wife’s side, by members of the Lawson family.

A lifelong summer resident and historian of Ducktrap (Lincolnville), Preston enjoyed tending to his family’s farmhouse by the ocean. There he enjoyed a lifelong friendship with Robie Ames. Preston’s first visits to Lincolnville were by steamship, then later by Model A Ford. He loved his summers in Ducktrap, skipping rocks at the shore, tending to his garden, climbing Bald Rock and documenting his extended family in pictures.

In 2007, Preston moved to the Terraces at Quarry Hill in Camden, where he became friends with many residents and staff. Whether in his early years, or later at Quarry Hill, Preston was always a devoted friend and known as a man of great character.

With Preston’s passing, the last in a long-line of the Austin Wade surname of Ducktrap ends.

A graveside service, with military honors, will be held on Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m. in the Maplewood Cemetery at Ducktrap in Lincolnville, followed by a reception at the family homestead in Lincolnville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lincolnville Historical Society, P.O. Box 204, Lincolnville, Maine 04849. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain St., Camden.

To leave an online condolence please visit obituaries at www.theeternalportal.com/tributes/preston-wade/.

Photo Albums

2 albums » view all albums

More Pres Photos

» view album (5 pics)

Pres at the Ames Fishhouse at Mystic Seaport

The Wade family farm in Lincolnville painted by Pres's friend Robie Ames

Preston Wade Photos

» view album (5 pics)

Cousin Howard Bettinson with wife, Dot & Pres

Online Condolence Guest Book

7 guest book messages » read all messages » add my own message

28 Jun 2009 – from Dorothy

Preston was a dear younger brother and I miss him a great deal. Since we both live at Quarry Hill, I saw him every day and we sat at the same table for our meals. Our table mate, Dan Riley is a person Pres very much enjoyed. The nurses and CNA's took good care of him and he loved them all, taking many photos. Thank you Quarry Hill for his wonderful care. The old family home in Lincolnville had a special place in his heart, and we will all miss him being there this summer when family members... » read more

24 Jun 2009 – from Anne and Terry Lamont

We always enjoyed visiting Pres and seeing what project he was doing at the house. He once took care of our goat for a week and walked him across the street every day on a leash for exercise. A dear man with a big heart, so glad he went pecefully.

23 Jun 2009 – from Shirley

Uncle Pres was a dear and sentimental gentleman, ever sincerely grateful of those who took the time to enjoy his company. If not for him, my childhood may not have been photographed or filmed, for his wonderful home movies we all enjoy taken around Ducktrap and our Lincolnville house. We all remember hearing my Dad, Pres and Carl calling out, "Ace' Deuce, the name of the game!" as they sat around the card table playing backgammon. I'll miss Pres at his workbench in the shed, in the chair on the ... » read more

23 Jun 2009 – from Eileen Kaatz Hebert

My Thursday mornings will not be the same. This is the photo Preston had sitting on his dresser the day we met. I couldn't help but comment on it -- so handsome in his uniform. I feel blessed to have known Preston, such a sweet soul. I will miss him.

22 Jun 2009 – from Susan Shinn

Thank you for writing your comments about Uncle Pres. If you would like to share any additional information or make plans to attend his memorial service please contact me.

22 Jun 2009 – from Alan Fowler

Society will miss Preston as he touched us all

21 Jun 2009 – from Justin Ford

I had the pleasure of sitting with Pres about two weeks ago and talking with him about his tour in the Navy. He was very excited that we were able to find pictures of his ship, the USS Wheatland, online and shared with me every detail of his tour on the ship. As a teenager, Pres took me in for a week and toured me around Boston - to the USS Constitution, and then to Mystic Seaport. Pres was a very good man, a great-uncle - a title he loved - and I will miss him very much.

Visitor Flowers

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22 Jun 2009

Susan Shinn placed this flower in memory

remembering alll the times Pres and I removed the pink roses from the lower drive way entrance...

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Mark Oleson lit this candle on 21 Jul 2009 in memory of Preston Wade	Dorothy lit this candle on 28 Jun 2009 in memory of Preston Wade	Robin Harlow lit this candle on 25 Jun 2009 in memory of Preston Wade

Shirley Remsen lit this candle on 23 Jun 2009 in memory of Preston Wade	Eileen lit this candle on 23 Jun 2009 in memory of Preston Wade