Jeptha Alan Wade Jr.

Jeptha – whose unusual first name came from his great-great uncle, the founder of Western Union – was born on July 26, 1922, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He lived until the age of 12 in Maplewood, New Jersey, and then San Mateo, California, where he graduated from Burlingame High School in 1940. He attended Cal Tech as an engineering student, but his education was interrupted by the war. After being sent to Ohio State for six months to study nuclear engineering, he was assigned to Oak Ridge, Tennessee for the duration of the war, working on the electro-magnetic separation project enriching uranium. Following the war he returned to Cal Tech and graduated in 1947.

Jep married Mary Seaver, with whom he moved to San Jose, and later Saratoga, where he raised four children. He spent his career at the California Water Services Company, rising from ditch digger while still in school to Chief Engineer and Vice-President. He helped oversee the construction of the company’s headquarters on North First Street in San Jose, a notable example of mid-century architecture. After forty years of service he retired from Cal Water in 1987.

In the same year he married his third wife Elizabeth Cockcroft, whom he had known in high school. They were happily married for 28 years, residing in Carmel and Burlingame. Jep and Betty traveled extensively, circumnavigating the globe several times, and also visiting every American state capital.

Over the course of his long career Jep served as a member or chairman of the American Water Works Association, the Saratoga Men’s Club, the Commonwealth Club, and the Toastmasters Club, as well as serving for many years as a board member of the Carmel Bach Festival.

Jep is survived by his beloved wife Betty, his sister Margaret Aubry and his brother-in-law Lloyd Aubry; his children, Randy Wade, Alan Wade, Jennifer Wade and Jill Wade; his grandchildren, Gage Heitner, Joseph & Lydia Barnes, and Leyla Firincioglu Wade; two sons-in-law, Martin Heitner and Semih Firincioglu; his stepson Bryant Cockcroft; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his step-son David Cockcroft, and leaves behind many people who were dear to him, especially Scott & Carol Smith, and Joe & Mary Jo Gough.

Donations may be sent to the Carmel Bach Festival, All Saints Episcopal Church in Carmel or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Burlingame in lieu of flowers.