Our beloved Tommy Wayne Wallace was called to be with his Creator July 12, 2016 after a lengthy illness. He had requested no services be held, but his family invites you to join in celebrating his life by gathering at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2016 at the Parish Hall of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 7900 Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX. Interment of his ashes will be alongside his brother and between his maternal grandparents at 3:30 p.m. at the historic King Cemetery in Aley, TX.
Tommy was born November 25, 1945 to Elyn and Joyce Thomas Wallace in Athens, TX and resided in Athens until the age of 14 at which time Dallas became his home. He attended both Athens and Dallas Public schools, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1964. Tommy joined the Navy in October 1965 and served the country he loved for over four years, with two tours of duty as a river boat gunner patrolling the Mekong River during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, his exposure to Agent Orange during his service led to many of the health problems he suffered during the latter years of his life. After an Honorable discharge from the Navy with the rating of E4 Petty Officer-3rd Class, Tommy returned to Dallas to spend the remainder of his adult life working in both the public & private sector. He was member of the Big D 57 Texas Disabled American Veterans.
“Goose Head” always called Athens home, and anyone who spent any time with him knew his first job was as a paper boy delivering the Athens Daily Review on his Cushman Eagle motor scooter. The newspapers were skillfully folded into a star shape before being thrown. He also shared stories of exploring the legendary tunnels beneath the streets of Athens and sneaking into the Texan Theater. His grandparents’ home was always full of the “Bryson Devils”, a harmless but mischievous gang of young men, who met regularly at Big Rock in the woods behind their home on Bryson Avenue in Athens. All friends were welcomed by “Momma Wallace” at their home in the Lakewood neighborhood of Dallas.
Tommy was very active in the Athens Teenage Baseball Association as a young boy, playing the first game he loved for many years from Little League through Pony League. He later became addicted to the game of golf and before his health declined he carried a two handicap. He played the guitar and piano and could definitely play better than he could sing! He was a computer whiz and loved to talk – always ready to share his life experiences and wisdom. A short conversation with Tommy was a rarity. Tommy enjoyed a traditional Father’s Day chat with Adam as they ran up cell minutes and watched the back nine of the U.S. Open while they discussed every topic under the sun.
His survivors include his wife of 25 years, Nicola (Niki) Frantz Wallace, son and daughter-in-law Adam and Katie Wallace, son Michael Wallace, daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Kenneth McGlothin. He was a proud Grandpa Tommy to eight grandchildren – William, Tessa, Cody, Kyla, Caleb, Mallory, Bud and Spencer. In addition, upon his marriage to Niki, he welcomed her children Justin Jones and fiancé Shona, Ryan Jones and wife Melanie, and Katie Jones to his family circle. He was lovingly called Fat Daddy by their children Mason, Kaden, Samuel, Keylee and Marcus. His loss is also mourned by his brother & sister-in-law Larry and Bobbie Wallace; cousins Marshall Cook, Sally Cook and Randy Greer, and Brian Paris; aunt Carlene Wallace and Ford Smith and uncle Johnny Wallace; step-father Jack Wells; extended family Larry and Kathryn Zabienski; nephews and nieces Sean Wallace, Amy Wallace Landers, Jesse Wallace and Rachel Wallace; in-laws Ernie and Paula Frantz and Jackie Frantz; long-time friends Jack Frost and Roger Wilson along with many other family members and friends.
Those waiting to greet him in heaven are the mother he adored, his father, brother Donny Wallace, paternal grandparents Jerome Warren (Romie) and Willie Etta Trent Wallace, maternal grandparents Lloyd and Maude Carrifee Thomas, aunt and uncle Maureen Thomas and Loran (Chunk) Cook, uncles Truitt Wallace, Mike Wallace, Robert Wallace, Weston Wallace, Quinton Wallace, aunt Wilma Wallace Furrh, step-father Al Campbell, sister-in-law Paula Kaye Evans Wallace, cousin Brady Paris and friend Chris Pappas.
Tommy was not a religious person but was very spiritual. He had studied the Bible extensively and never hesitated to share his beliefs.
The following is a summation of some of Tommy’s life experiences in his words:
“I came into this world premature and spent the first thirty days in an incubator. One’s first experience in this strange new world is doctor inflicted pain causing immediate panic. There are more humane ways to deliver a child today but in 1945 being born alive was the goal. I was in the first increment of the baby boom, in a new age of atom smashing and the fact that mankind could now accomplish what had previously been reserved for Gods; the destruction of humankind.
“I saw Sputnik as it circled the Earth from my backyard. I was taught many falsehoods in my youth; A white man is superior to a black man, integration would be the downfall of the U. S., the Confederacy would rise again, Yankees were bad except for the baseball team, Texas was the greatest state in the union, Republicans were carpet baggers and Jews were bad because they killed Jesus.
“I witnessed the space race, the cold war, had uncles that fought in Korea, and I fought in Vietnam; for a country that loves peace we sure do fight a lot. I was an eye-witness when Kennedy was killed. We were not surprised, I heard people a week before in the halls of the high school I attended say that if he came to Dallas someone would kill him. I couldn’t believe that security allowed windows to be open in buildings adjacent to the street. It sure screwed up my birthday plans that year. I watched on TV as Oswald was murdered in the basement of the city jail by a mobster. I was ashamed of the Dallas Police’s lack of security for such a high-profile criminal. We wanted to see a trial. I was a “hippy” in the late sixties to mid-seventies. Watched as the police released dogs on a crowd of peaceful demonstrators, that just wanted their rights promised in the supreme law of the Constitution. Followed Watergate and the demise of the executive branch of our government. Smelled a rat and was upset that they didn’t throw Nixon in jail.”
Tommy had an opinion on almost every subject and although he was passionate about his beliefs, he respected his fellow man and knew that sometimes we have to just agree to disagree. The motto he adopted later in life would become a mantra that was wished for all mankind to practice “Hate NOTHING, except hatred.”
If you would like to leave a message of condolence or light a memorial candle for the family, you may do so at www.carroll-lehr.com.