Obituary of Victor Leonard Slade

Victor Leonard Slade, 59, passed away in the comfort of his home in Chapel Hill on September 21, 2016, after a long journey with cancer. He was a loving husband and father, dear friend and coworker, devoted tender of butterflies, and talented origamist. Victor was born in Amityville, New York, on March 3, 1957, the youngest son of his parents Harry and Helen Slade. He married Mary Conway on February 3, 1979, and they raised three children: Matthew, Eileen, and Martha. A man of deep and complex faith, he was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wilson and Grace Lutheran Church in Durham. All of his life, Victor was enthralled by science, from the microscopic to the macrocosmic. Victor's love of science and technology led him to pursue medical laboratory technician training during his time in the Air Force, and later to attain his Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from East Carolina University in 1995. Victor held many jobs over the years, including at Wilson Memorial Hospital, the East Carolina Brody School of Medicine, and most recently with the Environmental Protection Agency. Victor was preceded in death by his beloved son Matthew Slade, his mother and father, and his sister Kathleen Apgar. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Slade of Chapel Hill, his daughter Eileen Slade and partner David Mahaffey of Chapel Hill, his daughter Martha Slade Donaldson and partner Kim Donaldson of Greenville, SC, and his sister Pam Fuqua of Clarksville, TN. Victor's fascination with metamorphosis, whether in the life cycle of the butterfly or the manipulation of a square of paper into an origami sculpture, was both scientific and spiritual. He held great hope that he would experience his own transformations in life and death. He bravely faced his terminal illness surrounded by people he loved and pursuing his interest as much as he was able. He leaves behind countless people who he has impacted in ways far and beyond what his family will ever know. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, September 26, 2016 at Grace Lutheran Church in Durham. Interment will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at Mapelwood Cemetery in Wilson. Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to be serving the Slade family. Online condolences may be offered at www.walkersfuneralservice.com.