Louis E Wallace

Wallace, Ph.D., James

Ithaca: Louis E. Wallace passed away peacefully at Hospicare in Ithaca, NY, during the afternoon of 4/19/13. He was 96 years old. Born one of five children of Israel and Rickley Wallace on 1/4/17 in Syracuse, NY, he graduated from Central High School there and attended some extramural classes at Syracuse University. He worked at a drug store and the post office before enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Lou achieved the rank of first lieutenant and flew a full complement of missions from England to Germany, serving as navigator and bombardier of B-17 bombers. After the war, the fickle hand of fate landed Lou in the jewelry business, first in North Carolina and then in New York State. When he had the means, he opened his own store: Dodson's Leading Jewelers in Jamestown, NY. He worked long and hard to serve a loyal clientele there until he retired in 1982. It was still wartime when he married Anne Klosowski Wallace, his wife of 60 years. She pre-deceased him in 11/04. His brother and three sisters have also passed away. Lou occupied his spare time with three primary passions. He began attending Syracuse football and basketball games in 1927 and continued going to such contests until his legs and stamina could carry him to the Dome no more. He was thrilled to see SU win its only national championship in football in 1959 and in basketball in 2003. He remained an avid and well-informed fan until the very end, enjoying the Orange's appearance in the Final Four this basketball season. 1959 was special for Lou for another reason: He became the first Life Master in Chautauqua County, NY, in the American Contract Bridge League. He continued to excel in playing competitive bridge in the areas of Jamestown, Stuart, FL, and Ithaca, NY until only a couple of months ago. He's been a Gold Life Master for many years. His third main hobby was golf. Lou played countless rounds, none of them especially well, mainly at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown; he directed his chronic slice down the middle fairly consistently. Surviving Lou are his son and daughter-in-law, Larry Wallace and Larri Richmond of Ithaca and his four grandsons Ray, Aaron, Jesse, and Noah. Also surviving are his other son and daughter-in-law, James Wallace and Ann Jane Tierney of Hamilton, NY, along with their daughters Jasmine and Gemma. According to his no-fuss wishes, Lou's funeral was a small, private ceremony. Donations may be sent to the SPCA or Hospicare.