Rita Joyce Wade was born to Freddie and Elnora Blade on April 18, 1953, and she departed this world at her home on August 4, 2014, at the tender age of 61. Rita was born in Richmond, California at Herrick Memorial Hospital. As a youth, Rita attended Pullman Elementary School, Granada Junior High and Kennedy High School, all located in Richmond. Rita was introduced to the Lord at an early age. She and her family attended Easter Hills Methodist Church. Rita never needed many friends having seven siblings. She was the third born. Linda Johnson (Greg, Sr.) was the eldest of all, followed by the late Freddie Blade, Jr. Following Rita were the other brothers the late Forest (Yvette) Blade, Herman Ray (Rosa) Blade, Robert (Nancy) Blade and Phillip (Lisa) Blade. Lastly, the youngest of her siblings was Sharon Reed. Growing up in Richmond was never a dull moment. Rita and her siblings love to get together and talk about their times growing up in Richmond. They often told how everyone knew them in the neighborhood and at their school. While in high school, Rita enjoyed modeling and the world of fashion. She learned to sew and was always creating fashion forward outfits. Her brothers and sisters were often her fashion models for her clothes and hair styles.
While in high school she met an upcoming trumpet player, Larry Jones, where they fell in love. After high school, Rita got a job at GE. While working there, Larry and Rita conceived Angela Renee Jones who was born on April 17, 1973. Angela was the love of Rita’s life. She kept Angela involved in everything – track, band, cheerleading, acting and dance. She never missed one of Angela’s events. Beyond mother and daughter, they became the best of friends.
On New Year’s Day 1983, Rita met her Mother’s neighbor, Preston Wade, who coincidentally happened to work at IBM too. The rest was a storybook fairytale. Preston and Rita dated for two years and blended their families to make one. They got married in Las Vegas on January 5, 1985. They made their home in San Jose where both worked together in the Silicon Valley. While working at IBM, Rita received numerous awards for her superior work performance. She worked at IBM for thirty years, retiring in 2009.
Rita and Preston did everything together as a family - attending all of Angela’s events, watching their son, Jestin Wade, play football, basketball and hockey or following behind their daughter, Nyree Wade. When they were not attending their kids’ events, every weekend their family and friends could be found at their San Jose home - barbequing, dancing, singing, swimming or just having a good time. Everyone loved hanging out with Rita and Preston and they loved everyone. She enjoyed preparing food and making sure everyone ate and had a good time. Those that knew Rita, knew she had more babies, her fur babies, her German Shepherds – Kemo, Omek, Shye’ and Moses.
They remained in San Jose for eight years. For their next stage in life, Rita and Preston built their dream home in Los Banos and moved there in 1991. Having a strong sense of family, Elnora, Freddie, Forrest, Sharon, Linda and Ray all followed suit and moved to Los Banos with their families as well. With this move, their families were united again. The families were larger now with a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, not excluding friends. Also, during this time, Rita became a grandmother. Angela had Ariella Adams, on April 19, 1995. The Aries trilogy was complete with all of their birthdays being consecutive days in April. The same love she had for Angela, she immediately had for her first born granddaughter, Ariella. They three often celebrated their birthdays together in Los Angeles.
While in Los Banos, Rita found a new family at First Baptist Church. She got saved and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Preston shortly followed suit. Given their lives to the Lord, the two could be found at First Baptist Church every Sunday. She sung in the choir and participated in the Vocational Bible School Program. She stayed active in all church events in and around Los Banos. She tirelessly gave of herself by visiting the elders of the church, the sick and shut-ins. Rita had a charitable heart. For holidays, she would often buy food, clothes and gifts for needy children in the community. No matter how much she gave, Rita felt like she could never give enough.
Family was everything to Rita. She later added to her grandchildren count with the birth of Dylan Wade in December 14, 2004. Angela married Corey English in August 2006. From their union, they birthed the late Cydnei Renee (2008), Emery Renee (2009) and Avery Renee (2011). She loved all her grandkids. She would have them spend weeks at a time with her and Preston. Fondly known as Grammy, Rita showered her grandbabies with love and affection.
When Rita was not at church, spending time with Preston, her siblings, her family or grandkids, she could be found with her new family at In-Shape Fitness taking her water aerobics class or doing Zumba. She enjoyed this getaway so much. When Angela came to town to visit, Rita had Angela and Ariella in the pool working out with her. Even this past June, Rita had Angela, Ariella and Jestin’s fiance, Amber, doing Zumba.
As you can read, there is one reoccurring theme in Rita’s life – family. Family meant everything to Rita. Her first family was her parents, siblings and their offspring. Her second family was her own natural family of children, a husband and grandkids. Rita had a work family. Rita had her own family of friends. She had her church family and she had her gym family. She tried to be there for everyone right until the end of her glorious life as she planned to go to Los Angeles to spend time with Ariella, Emery and Avery.
Those remembering Rita can attest her heart was open to everyone. Whether, family, friends or a stranger she just met, Rita made them feel welcomed and loved. She loved kids, as Rita was a kid at heart. Rita’s life was complete. Rita will be sorely missed, but as Angela feels and we all can take comfort in knowing - she was right with the Lord and that God does not make any mistakes. Her death was untimely and tragic, but we know we all have an Angel in Rita, looking after all of us. We love you Rita and you will be truly missed.