Wade Barber Murchison

Wade Barber Murchison passed away on July 15th with his family by his side after a short battle with pneumonia. Wade was born in Goldston, North Carolina on January 30, 1924 and graduated from Goldston High School in 1942. During World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine from 1942 to 1946 primarily in the United States coastal shipping routes, the Caribbean area, the North Atlantic shipping routes and the European Theater Offensive Operations. In February 1946, he married the love of his life, Hilda Gunter, who subsequently died in 1985.

After his service during the war, he joined Carolina Power &Light Company in Sanford, NC. He remained with Carolina Power & Light Company his entire working career and retired in 1989 in Wilmington. He was a long time member of the United Methodist Churches in Sanford, New Bern, Burgaw and most recently at Wesley Memorial United Church in Wilmington. Wade served this church for many years in various capacities including Chairman of the Administrative Board, Chairman of the Activity Building Committee, Head Usher and President of the Methodist Men.

Wade believed in paying back so he stayed very involved with his community. He served for many years in the Lion's Club, the Exchange Club and delivered Meals on Wheels for many folks in Wilmington.

His hobbies were surf fishing and golf. Wade fished the coast of North Carolina from the Outer Banks to Holden Beach with his favorite spot being the south end of Wrightsville Beach. A home-cooked fried fish dinner with his family and friends was one of his favorite pastimes. Golfing was his second love which he began when he retired. He not only had a hole in one, but also shot his age at 84. He and his closest friends also enjoyed a memorable trip to Scotland where they played the old St. Andrews course.

Wade is predeceased by his father Thomas Percy Murchison and his mother Berta Barber Murchison; his brothers William H. Murchison, Thomas P. Murchison, Jr., Robert M. Murchison and Charles E. Murchison.

Wade is survived by his children, daughter Kathryn Dawn Murchison and son Ashley Bryan Murchison and his wife Sara; his sister Grace Harris and husband John Harris; his loving nieces and nephews; his dog, Annabelle, and his granddogs Gus, Jake and Gracie.

His family would like to acknowledge the care provided him by the staff on the sixth floor of NHRMC and his personal nurse, Laura Westbrook.

The family will receive friends at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Sunday, July 17th. The celebration of Wade's life will be held at 12:00 noon at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Wilmington on Monday, July 18th, with interment immediately following at Oleander Memorial Gardens beside his wonderful wife of 39 years, Hilda. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Honor Flight of Southeastern N.C., P.O. Box 4563, Wilmington, N.C. 28403.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.coblewardsmithwilmington.com.