Melvin Wade Gilmore of Ward, went to be with his Lord & Savior on April 1, 2015. He was born May 7, 1957 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wade married the love of his life, Julia, on February 14, 1987 whom after 27 years of marriage he still referred to as his bride. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a Godly man and a very active and faithful member of Steel Bridge Baptist Church in Lonoke. Family, church and work were his life. He loved spending time with his family and especially his granddaughter Alexis. Wade had a 37 year career as a Master plumber.

He is preceded in death by his brother Gayle Gilmore and his foster mother Barbara Buttram of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

He is survived by his wife Julia Ann Craft Gilmore; daughter Jessica and husband Derrick McQuary and granddaughter Alexis McQuary all of Ward; son Jimmy and wife Christy Gilmore of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; brother Shane Gilmore serving with the Army in South Korea; foster father Kent Buttram of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and a host of other family and friends.

Memorial service will be held Monday April 6, 2015 at 7:00 pm at Steel Bridge Baptist Church Hwy 31 South Lonoke, Arkansas. The family has requested in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Wade Gilmore Memorial Fund at First Security Bank in Beebe, Arkansas.