Wade Worthey

Wade Worthy was born in Orange, Texas on March 26, 1947 to Martha Ford and Jesse Wade Worthey, III.

He grew up in Leesville, Louisiana and Beaumont, Texas. His mother re-married when Wade was two years old and brought Ottis Knapp into his life. Wade used the last name of Knapp until he entered the Air Force.

He had three younger siblings, Sammy Knapp, Martha Knapp and Jon Knapp.

He moved to Dallas in 1965 to attend the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967 (received a draft notice during the Viet Nam War but instead of dropping out of college, he received a deferment from the USAF for the price of four years of service).

Wade was part of the SAC elite guard and Security Police at Offutt Air Force Base from 1967 to1968, then served from 1969 to1970 at Camh Ran Bay Air Force Base in Viet Nam. Just before leaving for Viet Nam, he married a young woman named Donna Dent. After his year in Viet Nam, he finished his 4 year commitment to the USAF by working town patrol at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Wade and Donna moved to Dallas after Wade was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1971. He began working for the University Park Police Department and stayed there from 1971until1976. He left the University Park Police Department in 1976 to start a new police career at the Carrollton Police Department. Wade and Donna were blessed with their one and only daughter Brandi Michelle in 1977.

He was awarded police officer of the year in 1977. He was promoted to sergeant during his time at Carrollton and he became involved with the Carrollton Rodeo Team, which brought him so many good memories. His favorite event was "chute doggin'".

Sadly, Wade and Donna's marriage ended in 1990, but these two amazing people were able to develop a strong and everlasting friendship.

In 1991, Wade started dating a co-worker, Cheryl Hitt. Wade decided to retire from Carrollton in May 1999. Wade and Cheryl were married on December 2, 2000. Wade and Cheryl were truly two parts of a whole.

Wade was "PaPa" to his two granddaughters Erika and Emily and nothing meant more to him than these two beautiful girls. Family was without a doubt his greatest love.

Wade loved playing softball, fishing, hunting, the Dallas Cowboys, guns, knives, painting landscape oil paintings, and gnomes. He did not care much for electronic gadgets, except for his Kindle and his Motorola Razor cell phone. Even though his favorite "pet" was a horse named Dunny Leo Dodger, he was finally converted to being a dog lover by Cheryl. They both enjoyed their two 4-legged fur babies Tater Tot and Hambone.

Wade passed from this life to eternity on January 23, 2014 and will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options in Plano. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Carrollton, 2400 Josey Lane, Carrollton, Texas. Interment will follow at Dallas - Ft. Worth National Cemetery with military honors at the graveside.