Wade Morgan Woodall, age 89, died May 13, 2017 from bladder cancer at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Wade was born on April 1, 1928 in Four Oaks, North Carolina, the oldest of six children of parents Irene and Bill Woodall. He started first grade at age 5 and completed high school at age 16. He graduated from Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, NC and went on to study at universities of East Carolina, Duke, Northern Illinois, Northeastern Illinois and Clemson. He began his work life as a teacher at Charles L. Coon High School in 1947 and later was principle in Warren County Schools. In 1959, Wade used his public school experience to begin work for Scott, Foresman & Company, a text book publishing firm, leading the Elementary Language Arts department, including the well-known Dick, Jane and Sally books.

In 1987, Wade married Ernestine (Erno) Crisler. They lived in Knollwood in Mauldin until moving to Rolling Green Village in 2009. They attended Mauldin Baptist Church where they were frequent Sunday School teachers. Wade and Erno were both Master Gardeners and active members of the Couples Garden Club.

Wade retired in 1991 and began to pursue full time gardening, a hobby he had enjoyed during his work life. He developed a new, builder’s lot into a lush, extensive garden full of Japanese maples, viburnums, magnolias, azaleas and other flowering shrubs and small trees. He was a frequent presenter at garden clubs around Greenville where he shared his knowledge of camellias, propagation, plant identification, and gardens around the world using slides he had made in his travels.

Wade and Erno enjoyed traveling, visiting many locations both within the US and abroad. Their trips often included visiting well-known gardens as well as the Chelsea Flower Show one year.

Wade is survived by his wife Ernestine; daughters Carol Holmes, Lisa Woodall and Donna Henderson from a first marriage to Susie Abrams; grandson John Henderson; siblings Harold Woodall, Jim Woodall and Faye Green. He was predeceased by siblings Charles Woodall and Elizabeth Woodall.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 21 at 2:00 pm at Rolling Green Village officiated by Chaplain David Newton and Pastor Wade Leonard. Inurnment will be at Graceland East in a private service.

In lieu of flowers donations in Wade’s name may be made to Rolling Green Village’s Resident Distress Fund and the Greater Greenville Master Gardeners, Gary Cutter, Treasurer, 4539 Locust Hill Road, Taylors, SC 29687.