James “Jim” Eugene Wallace, 90, passed away July 3, 2021.
Jim was born November 12, 1930 in Washington, Indiana to Frank Burton and Sunshine Vivian (Ruckriegle) Wallace. Growing up in Washington, he worked continuously from a very early age, usually working multiple jobs, with early highlights including hauling and delivering coal with his Grandpa Ruckriegle… driving a bread truck before he had a driver’s license… and being the 1st employee at Helphenstine’s Drive-In in or around 1946.
After graduating from Washington High School, Jim worked at B&O Railroad as a carman before serving in the U.S. Army in 1951. A Korean War Veteran, Jim was stationed in Korea in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a Morse Code Interceptor from 1951 through 1953.
Returning to Washington after the war, Jim met Norma Jean Russell, marrying his beautiful and beloved wife of 67 years in April 1954.
Jim would continue working as a carman at the B&O Railroad through 1964, and then worked at NSWC Crane as a Supply Officer for 30 years up through his retirement in April 1994. Retirement lasted about 1 year before Jim began working again, driving patients to and from medical appointments throughout southern Indiana for Senior & Family Services (Med X-Press) in Washington for 14 years (through August 2010).
Jim was a strong, simple, self-sufficient man and an incredible Husband, Father and provider. He was quiet and soft-spoken, and he loved the simple beauty of life. He loved fishing, mushroom hunting and, throughout his entire life, generally loved being outdoors watching and experiencing all the wonder and beauty of nature. Traveling every year to visit with his adult children, he always included side trips to state parks and other natural attractions to enjoy a few extra days with Norma experiencing new sights and adventures. Jim also loved to read multiple daily newspapers and an assortment of mostly nature-related magazines. Throughout his life he loved word games and playing Scrabble with Norma and his children, who (almost) all inherited his love of the game.
Jim is preceded in death by his mother Sunshine (1943)… his stepmother Edna May (1966)… his father Frank (1980)… his siblings Ben, Nancy (Wallace) Crawford and Carol Sue (Wallace) Petro… and his granddaughter Lauren Anne Wallace.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Norma… daughter Carol… sons James “Jim” and David (Tammy Lee). He is also survived by his grandchildren Brittany (Adam) Brown, Andrew and Kristen and his great-grandchildren Jacob, Emalee, Caleb and Addison. We all love and adore our husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather… and will miss him terribly.
As he wanted, we will have a small, simple, private service Friday, July 9th at 11am at Gill Funeral Home followed by burial at Oak Grove Cemetery at about 12 noon.
