Wade was born December 19, 1925 in Greensboro, North Carolina.  He graduated from Greensboro Senior High School in 1943.

He graduated from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1945.  In 1949, he married Betty Winecoff of Greensboro and they had two daughters and one grandson.

He served in the United States Navy three years during World War II.  He was recalled into the Navy during the Korean War, 1951-1953, and discharged as a Lieutenant.

He joined Home Federal Savings & Loan of Greensboro in 1946.  He resigned in 1967 to join Winston-Salem Savings & Loan where he became President of the Savings and Loan.  Both companies later merged and he retired from First Home Federal Savings and Loan in 1981.

He is an Eagle Scout and received the Silver Beaver Award.  He served as Vice President of the Old Hickory Boy Scout Council.

Wade attended West Market Street United Methodist Church and served on the church board.

He played the trombone in the Greensboro Symphony for many years and also performed with the Moravian Band in Winston-Salem.

He taught Real Estate courses at Guilford Technical Community College, Alamance Community College, Randolph Community College, and Dan Mohr Real Estate School for twenty years.  He was also Trustee in two major bankruptcy cases in federal bankruptcy court.

He joined the Rotary Club of Greensboro in 1957.   In 1967, he moved to Winston-Salem and he joined the Rotary Club of Winston-Salem.  He was Secretary and later President of the Winston-Salem Club.  In 1981, he moved back to Greensboro and rejoined the Rotary Club of Greensboro.  For 16 years he served as secretary of the Greensboro Club.

He served as District Governor in 1982-83.
His father, Charlie Phillips served twice as district governor.

Wade is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor and now an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Greensboro.

– PRID Ken Morgan (2017)