Bob was born June 7, 1927 in Milton, Ma, the oldest son of Ralph and Eunice Wallace. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1944. Bob was a World War II and Korean War veteran, having enlisted in the Navy after high school in 1945, and then being drafted into the Army in 1950, where he served until 1952, when he was transferred to the Army Reserves. In the time between his military service, Bob attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Ma. where he was a brother in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated class of 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He first worked for New England Telephone & Telegraph.
During the height of the Cold War, he traveled to Europe, Labrador, Peru, Chile, Greece, Turkey and Libya for COMSAT to establish global communication installations designed to protect our Allies against possible missile attacks. In 1965, Bob moved to Virginia and went to work the Federal Communications Commission in Washington D.C. Then in 1983, he moved to Maine, transferred to the Department of the Navy, and worked at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding in association with Bath Iron Works in Bath, Me. where he retired in 1987. Bob then went on to manage Benoit’s on Maine Street in Brunswick, Me.
In Virginia, Bob was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and choir member at the Vienna Baptist Church, and toured and performed throughout Europe in 1978 with the choir. In 1999, Bob and his wife Joy moved to Boynton Beach, FL., where he was a choir member, served on the Staff Parish Committee and taught new believer Bible classes at the First United Methodist Church.
Bob enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, going to the beach, gardening, and solo day ski trips at Mt. Abram. He loved to joke, make up nicknames for people and sing silly songs. Bob loved animals (especially cats and pelicans), chili mac, hot dogs (tube steaks) and Sam Adams beer, and was a lifelong New England sports fan. He was thrilled to watch the Sox win the World Series for the first time in his life at age 77.
Bob dedicated himself to providing for his family, even beyond his means, and will be greatly missed by his family. His marriage with his wife Joy served as an example that true love exists, endures, and can last a lifetime. He was liked and respected by all who knew him, and left a lasting impression on all.
Bob Wallace is survived by his brother, Frederic Wallace of Framingham, MA.; daughter, Kimberley Keller of Brunswick ME and granddaughter, Afton Sinclair, great grandson, Giovanni Sinclair Jr. and grandson Adam Woodson; son Andrew Wallace of Taylor Mill, KY., grandsons, Cameron, Wesley and Aidan Wallace; Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant James Wallace of Long Island, NY., grandson, Ian, and granddaughters, Mackenzie and Madison Wallace; daughter, Nicole Wallace and grandson Nevan Hanson of Portland, ME.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the United Baptist Church, 1 Elm Street, Topsham, ME. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, online at: http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp
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