Obituary: Dr. Wade Hampton Jordan Jr. | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Dr. Wade Hampton Jordan Jr., age 79, of Blount’s Creek went to be with the Lord on Oct. 27, 2011, from his home. He was born June 1, 1932, in Edenton and lived in Louisiana, Texas, Delaware, Ohio, and Virginia throughout his life, returning to eastern North Carolina to retire. He was the son of the late Wade Hampton Jordan Sr. and Minnie Louise Sutton Jordan.

    Wade graduated from Perquimans County High School in 1950, East Carolina Teachers College in May 1954, and began his Ph.D. program as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his Ph.D. in Electrochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964. Wade invented and submitted the patent for the lithium battery while working for the DuPont Corporation in the late 1960s. He then became the Science Department Chair and taught chemistry at the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City during the 1970s. In the 1980s, Wade returned to research working for Union Carbide and Eveready Battery in Cleveland, Ohio. Wade completed his career working for the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. in the 1990s, where he continued contract work until retirement in eastern N.C. in 2002. He served in the National Guard from 1949 to 1952. During his spare time he loved reading, dancing, traveling, camping, sailing, community service and finally flying lessons at the age of 70 years.

    Wade is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lillian Cecelia Haynes Jordan, formerly of Goldsboro; his children, Robert A. Jordan and wife Marla Chandler Jordan of Pinetown, Tonja L. Jordan and husband Brad Stillwell of Blounts Creek, Kalla J. Sparrow and husband Don of Arnold, Md., Wanda J. Clark and husband John of Garner, and David A. Jordan and wife Suzy Kish Jordan of Blount’s Creek; his grandchildren, Brian J. Sparrow of Edgewater, Md., and Stephen D.A. Shirk of Garner; step-grandchildren, Donald W. Sparrow III of Greensboro, Jeffrey W. Sparrow of San Diego, Calif., and Tara Shirk Combs of Moorefield, W.Va. Wade was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Lee Jordan, and sister, Mary Louise Jordan Godwin.

    Wade was a devoted Christian through his entire earthly life, sharing his love through actions, as well as verbally. He celebrated his commitment for the Lord, by serving as a Deacon, Bible Study Teacher, Choir member, Lay Speaker, Treasurer and more over the years. He will be missed greatly by his many friends, loving immediate family as well as extended families.

    Wade’s family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday at Paul Funeral Home, 900 John Small Avenue, Washington. A “Celebration of Life Service” will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Warren Chapel UMC, 13259 N.C. Highway 33 East, Blount’s Creek.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, 930-A Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834. Online memorials and memories can be submitted at www.paulfuneralhome.com.

    Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington is providing this honored service for the Jordan family.