On Thursday, May 30th, 2024, Alden Wadleigh of Fredonia, AZ passed away. Alden was born May 16th, 1925 to Paul F. And Margaret K. Wadleigh. He was the oldest of three children. Alden spent most of his younger years in and around Boston, Massachusetts. He was educated at the Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, which is the oldest American boarding school still in operation. At the outset of WWII, Alden joined the US Navy and was called to active duty on September 18th, 1942. As a result of the war, he took his college education at Arizona State College at Flagstaff, AZ. He graduated with a degree in liberal education and proceeded to graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. On December 1st, 1956 he married the love of his life, Lucy May Jensen of Fredonia, AZ. He was the Western Region Sales Manager of the RD Werner Company of Greenville, Pennsylvania. He developed over a quarter of a billion dollars in sales of aluminum and fiberglass ladders. This was an accomplishment that has not been broken. Alden was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in December 2022, and was sealed to Lucy in the St. George Temple in December of 2023.
Alden was proceeded in death by his parents and his wife of 63 years, Lucy.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 11:00 AM (Arizona Time) in the Fredonia Ward Chapel with a viewing from 9:30-10:45 AM prior to the service. He will be interred next to Lucy at the Fredonia Cemetery.
Services were arranged with Mosdell Mortuary.
I lost a favorite fishing buddy with Uncle Al’s passing. We were both broken hearted as his age and mobility brought his Lake Powell fishing expeditions to an end. Alden’s war time history was an amazing account of human survival. (Aunt Lucy always referred to her sweetheart as “Alden”) He served aboard the USS Cabot which was a light aircraft carrier. On November 25th, 1944 the Cabot was attacked by several Japanese Kamikaze suicide aircraft one of which crashed into the flight deck and forward aircraft elevator. 62 sailors were killed outright and many more were wounded. Alden who was delivering 40MM ammunition to a gun crew at the time was blown off his feet and left unconscious. The blast had severely damaged his lungs. After a months long unsuccessful rehabilitation effort, his doctors were forced to completely remove his left lung and much of his diaphragm ultimately saving his life.
…… Uncle Al, we all miss you so much! Happy (Heavenly) Trails!
Tom Jensen
Alden you are one special friend.. You will be missed by many.. I love you so much ..you will not be forgotten ..
I’m so grateful I was at the Fredonia Memorial Service, on Monday, (Who knew you’d pass on Thursday) Your speech there was wonderful. You are a true Patriot, Navy man and Hero in every sense of the word. I would see you drive past my place, several times a day, for your visit to the cemetery to see Ms Lucy. May your heavenly reunion be a Grand One. Til we meet again, Sir.