SOUTH PARIS — Richard Loton Wade, 85, of South Paris passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 6, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

Richard was born in Norway on Oct. 27, 1931, to Myrle L. and Delores (Gould) Wade. He graduated from Norway High School in 1949.

In May 1951, Richard enlisted into the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, where he served in Newport, R.I., on the USS Snowden DE-246 and was assigned as a storekeeper on the ship. Richard earned the rank of SK3 and also received the National Defense Ribbon, and was honorably discharged on May 11, 1955.

Richard loved horse racing and he worked for his father who trained horses. He enjoyed going to New York to race horses and in the winter time, they boarded them in Pinehurst, N.C. He worked one season with Stanley Dancer, the leading horse race driver. Richard also worked at A.C. Lawrence as a supervisor as well as Bancroft Contracting.

In 1953, Richard married Pat Judkins. Together, they did a lot of traveling and camping in their trailer. On one trip, they traveled to California for five weeks. They also enjoyed going on cruises and traveled to the Caribbean and Bermuda with friends often. In addition to horse racing and RVing, Richard enjoyed NASCAR, baseball and football.

Richard was a former deacon at the First Congregational Church in South Paris and a member of the Good Sam Club and NAFCA.

He leaves behind his wife, Pat of South Paris; two daughters, Rhonda Whittemore and her husband, Duffy, of South Paris, and Jolene Doughty and her husband, Herm, of West Paris; two brothers, Rodney Wade and his wife, Sue, of Norway, and Peter Wade and his wife, Marie, of Farmington; grandchildren, Erin Graham and her husband, Eric, Libby Eldred and her husband, Jon, Hannah Doughty and her fiancé, Mickey O’Brion, and Maggie Mae Whittemore; and great-grandchildren, Julia Graham and Sydney Eldred.

He is predeceased by his parents; and a brother, Myrle Jr.

Condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting www.chandlerfunerals.com.

Richard L. Wade