Wade F. Blacka

Wade F. "Bud" Blacka, 66, of Dover, died Friday, Apr. 1, 2011, in Sagamore Hills Medical Center. Bud had battled Multiple Sclerosis for many years.

Born Jul. 27, 1944, in Dover, he was a son of the late Frank and Isabelle Beitzel Blacka. Bud graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1962, and shortly afterward joined the United States Air Force, serving honorably during the Vietnam War. On Jun. 26, 1965, he married the former Yvonne "Bonnie" Conrad. Bud was employed by the Ohio Department of Transportation for a number of years until illness forced him to retire.

He was a member of St. Joseph Church in Dover, the Fraternal Order of Eagles in New Philadelphia and the Disabled American Veterans. Bud was active with the New Philadelphia Little League Baseball Assoc. for many years, as well as the Akron Chapter of the M.S. Society with which he helped provide home health care. He also enjoyed sports, especially the Ohio State Buckeyes and all of the Cleveland pro teams.

In addition to his wife, Bonnie, Bud is survived by a son, James W. (Christine) Blacka of Plain City; a daughter, Kristine Johnson of Weaver, AL; four grandchildren, Conner, Shane and Bryan Blacka, and Keylee Johnson; a special godchild, Erica Cope; a sister and a brother, Wanda (Richard) Shaffer and J. Richard (Maxine) Blacka, both of New Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Eileen Blacka and Darla Limbacher.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, Apr. 3, at 2 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, with Bud's cousin, Dale Fincher, officiating. Immediately following the service, the Dover post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will perform military rites. A private entombment will be held later in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens, Dover. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Sunday, 1 2 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bud, please visit the Toland-Herzig website and click on Obituaries.

The family suggests that contributions in Bud's memory be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 6155 Rockside Rd., Ste. 202, Independence, OH 44131, or the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.

TOLAND-HERZIG, DOVER
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com