Obituary of Joel Wade Bryant

Wade Bryant passed on Monday morning, October 18th 2021 at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah Washington and was laid to rest in peace in a private family burial ceremony at Restlawn Memorial Park in Edmonds Washington on Friday October 22nd. He was a devoted husband, supportive father, loving grandfather and good friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Alice, son Joe (Kelli) Bryant, daughter Melina (Bryan) Lewis, Stepsons Greg Tift and Chris (Hannah) Tift and grandchildren Rachel, Kelsey and Patrick Lewis and Emily Bryant. Wade is also survived by five sisters, Erma Spratlin, Wanda Longest, Ann Herring, Barbara Akins and Susan Beckett who all reside in Mississippi. He was preceded in death and is now reunited with his father John Selma Bryant, mother Verlon Ferguson Bryant and brother Larry Steve Bryant. Wade spent his childhood years in Bruce Mississippi and was a graduate of Bruce High School and Mississippi State University. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and also served in the Mississippi National Guard and United States Army. A career in the Civil Service began with the Corps of Engineers building new highways in Mississippi, then transferring to Memphis Tennessee, followed by a position with the Economic Development Administration in Huntsville Alabama, then back to Memphis where he began his work with the Federal Aviation Administration. It was an FAA promotion that brought Wade and family to Seattle in 1973 and he spent this part of his career planning and developing airports in the Northwest and became Manager of the Airports District Office. Wade forecast the growth of air travel in Seattle and other major cities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho and helped airports meet these demands. Thanks to the work done by his team, many runways in the Northwest, including a third one at Sea-Tac were constructed based on those forecasts. Wade possessed unmatched optimism, a joy for living and never met a stranger. He was a gifted storyteller and his tales will be retold for generations. He was the living definition of a southern gentleman whose kindness, integrity, humor and love for others was evident in everything he did. He loved his many decades working with his colleagues at the FAA, loved staying active pursuing hobbies such as square dancing, swimming and snow skiing, loved the many dogs and cats that were lucky enough to be owned and walked by him, but what he loved more than anything was his wife Alice and his family. A celebration of Wade’s life for family and his many friends will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a local YMCA would be an appreciated gesture as he was an active member and supporter. And one simple way everyone can honor Wade’s memory and celebrate this great man is by smiling and saying hello to those you meet and helping out a friend or family member in need. That's what Wade Bryant spent his entire life doing and the world he just left is a much better place thanks to all of those left behind whose lives he touched.