John D. Wallace, 80, Supervisor

He was born May 16, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he graduated from South Hills High School. John was also a graduate of Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon) where he received a degree in industrial engineering. During his college years he worked in the post office, did clerical work for his father's office and worked for the Department of the Navy. He was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy upon graduation from Carnegie Tech.

Immediately following training in aeronautical engineering at M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), John was sent to serve on the U.S.S. Wasp in the Pacific as part of the "fast carrier task force" in the 5th fleet during World War II. After three years the ship took a bomb and had to return to port for repairs. It was in Philadelphia, where he was stationed for additional training, that he met his future wife, a Navy nurse. He was then assigned to the U.S. S. Midway until he was released from active duty, where he worked on the flight deck directing air traffic as Landing Signals and Arresting Gear Officer.

He moved to Avon Lake from Lorain in 1952. Mr. Wallace was employed for 42 years for U.S. Steel, Lorain as Supervisor of the Industrial Engineering Department, retiring in1983. He was a member of the Avon Lake Presbyterian Church, where he was a church elder since 1956, and also sang in the church choir. He began singing with his college fraternity and in the Navy and was a member of the Barbershop Society and the Avon Lake Men's Chorus as well. In addition to singing, he enjoyed fishing and vacationing in Canada, crossword puzzles, gardening and fixing things around the home.

Mr. Wallace is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth Louise (nee Crumb); two daughters, Susan McConnell of Chicago, Illinois and Beth Wallace of Treadway, Tennessee; a son, John David Wallace, Jr., of Bend, Oregon; two grandchildren and a sister, Marjorie Wallace Totaro of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy Leroy and Hannah (nee Evans) Wallace.

A memorial service will be held at the Avon lake Presbyterian Church, 32340 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake on Sunday, October 14, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Thomas C. Robinson will officiate. Burial will be private at Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon.

Memorials may be forwarded to the Avon Lake Presbyterian Church, the Avon Lake Men's Chorus or a favorite Charity.

Arrangements handled by the Busch-Burmeister Family Chapel, 163 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake.