George ‘Bill’ William Wallace
George ‘Bill’ William Wallace
George ‘Bill’ William Wallace passed away on
the evening of January 11th, 2019 at the age of 89 after several years in the
loving care of family in Boise, Idaho. George was born in Nampa, ID on July 21,
1929 to Bessie (Bays) Wallace and Oran V. Wallace. He graduated from Nampa High
School in 1947 and married Mary ‘Cathy’ Catharine Fox on June 9th, 1950. George
and Mary C. had been married 62 years when she passed in 2012.
As a young couple George and Mary C. lived in
many parts of southern Idaho, travelling with George’s work as a lineman for
Mountain Bell at a time when stringing phone wire through the southern Idaho
deserts and farmland involved horse drawn wagons for hauling telephone poles.
They eventually settled in Twin Falls, Idaho in 1957 where they lived for over
55 years and raised eight children. At the time of his retirement, George held
a regional managerial position yet he also spent over a decade in his earlier
years as CWA (Communications Workers of America) President passionately
advocating for workers rights. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of
America and had endless entertaining stories and lasting friendships from his
years in the telecommunications industry.
George and Cathy’s life in Twin Falls was
indelibly woven with the community of St. Edwards Catholic Church. They and
their family were known and loved by so many through the years. George sang in
the choir, served as a eucharistic minister, was a regular reader at Mass
and
volunteered in a myriad of ways. He
and Cathy were both devoted members of the perpetual adoration chapel prayer
team, spending countless hours in faith-filled service. He was generous in
every way.
Work, family and community were at the center
of George’s life yet he was a man of many interests and talents. Throughout his
life he found joy in exploring nature and the great outdoors. Many of his
fondest memories and stories were of backpacking trips in the Idaho
backcountry, fishing and angling for salmon and steelhead and sharing his love
of the wilderness with family and dear friends. George was an artisan in his
own way, a lover and creator of beauty whether through gardening and cooking,
the way he would tie a fly for his next fishing trip or shine his shoes and
press a shirt. He possessed a deep appreciation for music and poetry, loved to
dance, always enjoyed a well told story, a bit of bawdy humor and a good party.
He wielded a quick wit, strong opinions and a hearty laugh that was often
paired with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Mary Catharine was truly the love
of his life and the family they created together was a legacy that filled him
with deep pride and gratitude.
George is survived by by his eight children:
Cecil Jones, Leslie Emerson, Hal Wallace, Elizabeth Carthan, Denise M. Wallace,
Paul M. Wallace, Ivan Clay Wallace and Molly Wavra. Also by his 20
grandchildren: Lindsey Walter, Erin Jones, Genevieve, Jesse, and Anthony
Emerson, Andrew Wallace, Ivy Shiro, Elyseya ‘Ashiauna’ Louderbough, Danielle
and Katherine Rolley, Dashiell and Julian Moody, Elizabeth and Evan Wallace,
Blaze, Phoebe, and Wren Wallace, Sydney Tena and Symon and Kaleb Wavra as well
as his 21 great-grandchildren: Kannan and Chloe Walter, Addie and William
Emerson, Merin, Finlan, and Elowen Wallace, Samantha and Blake Shiro, Haven,
Jade, and Grace Louderbough, Ashton, Amber and Elijah Rolley, Lydia Porter,
Jeremiah and Jonah Wallace, Orion, Evelyn, and Aurora Tena. Additionally by his
much loved daughters and sons in-law Steve Emerson, Kerre Wallace, Jeff
Passerotti, Cedric Carthan and Wendy Wallace as well as the beloved spouses of
his grandchildren and by many nieces and nephews. George is also survived by
his sister Maxine Walls of Mesquite Texas, and his brother in-law Gary Fox of
Meridian, Idaho.
George was preceded in death by his wife Mary Catharine
Wallace, sisters Vivian Crabtree and Lillian Williams, his sisters in-law
Marjorie Davis and Shirley Bethel, his brothers in-law Floyd Walls, Cecil
Williams and Bud Fox. Also by his son-in-laws William Rolley
and Lonnie L. Jones.
There will be an open casket viewing and
rosary vigil at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday,
January 22nd, at 6:30pm.
There will be an additional open casket
viewing and rosary vigil at Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls, Idaho on
Wednesday, January 23rd, at 6:00pm.
A funeral Mass will held at St. Edwards
Catholic Church in Twin Falls, Idaho on Thursday, January 24th, at 10:30am
followed by burial service at Sunset Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel in Boise and Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls.
George loved flowers, the vibrance and color
is welcomed and will be enjoyed should you feel inclined to send them.
Flowers may be sent to either Alden-Waggoner
Funeral Chapel or Reynolds Funeral Chapel.
If you
prefer, a charitable donation may be made in George's name to the Idaho Chapter
of the Sierra Club at:
https://content.sierraclub.org/outings/donations-contributions
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George ‘Bill’ William Wallace, please visit our flower store.
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