William Young Wallace

William Young Wallace, age 90, died Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at his home in Westfield, surrounded by his family. Born to Chester and Alice (Young) Wallace at their home on Effingham Place, he was a lifelong resident of Westfield. He attended the then-new Franklin Elementary School and later studied at Pingry School and Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering (BS 1944 and MS 1947), Phi Beta Kappa. A veteran of World War II, he interrupted his studies to serve as a Navy Seabee in Guam. Until his retirement, he worked as an electrical engineer and in management at NJ Bell Telephone and AT&T. He was a member of the Mayflower Society and a long-time volunteer at the Miller-Cory House Museum in Westfield, where he helped to plan and maintain the period gardens and manage finances. In addition to early American history and antiques, his interests included woodworking, tennis, sailing, and model railroads. He completed many projects repairing and restoring antique furniture, and he made intricately detailed landscapes and cars for his model railroad installation. He was an early adherent of organic gardening, and his compost piles were legendary! Surviving are his three daughters and three sons-in-law, Linda and Wally Parker, Virginia and David Burley, and Sharon Wallace and Simon Hobbs; 8 grandchildren; and 1 great-granddaughter. His wife, Nancy, passed away in 2004. The family is grateful to Maka and George Gamtsemlidze, whose help and care allowed Bill to stay in his longtime home on Clark Street, just around the corner from his childhood home. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org; 800-272-3900; PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011) or The Miller-Cory House Museum (PO Box 455, Westfield, NJ, 07091). Private arrangements by the Gray Funeral Home in Westfield. Go to grayfuneralhomes.com for on line condolences.