It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved parents. After living long, wonderful lives filled with good friends, family and memories gathered around North America and the world, both of our parents passed away in Pensacola, FL. Our father, Edwin S. Wallace Jr, who left us on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at the age of 96. Our mother, Jean H. Wallace, left us just 3 days later, Friday, January 3, 2025, at the age of 93. We will miss them very much.

Ned and Jean just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2024. Parents to five natural born children and second parents to a vast group of high school buddies, neighborhood children, spouses, cousins, nieces, nephews and maybe even a friend of a friend. As many will express, our parents left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know them.

Edwin, often known to many as Ned or Sam, was born in Pensacola. After spending his early years in Pensacola, Ned's family moved to Baton Rouge, LA. He spent summers with his grandmother back in Pensacola where he fished, crabbed, and swam in Bayou Texar, Pensacola Bay and Pensacola Beach. Ned's summer experiences left him with lasting memories of Pensacola and the family homestead memories he could recall even in his 90's. After graduating from high school in 1945, he attended LSU and later was recruited to join the US Navy. He entered into the "Flying Midshipmen" program. After earning his wings, he flew carrier-based combat missions in the Korean War, including providing close air support of US ground troops. After Korea, he returned to Pensacola as a trainer at Whiting Field in Santa Rosa County Florida and then later at Saufley Field. Ned earned a B.S. in Naval Science, completed post graduate work, and saw duty at the Naval Missile Center in California. During the Vietnam War, he was the Executive Officer Cam Rahn Bay NAF where he survived numerous missile attacks on his base.

His last post was overseas in London, England. During the overseas tour of duty, we have memories of a caring aunt who sent the family black-eyed peas to make sure they "ate well". Ned was a seaman, pilot, fighter pilot, flight trainer, engineer, trusted service member and a dedicated Naval officer. We thank him for his dedication and military service.

Ned retired from the Navy in 1975 after almost 30 years of service. Among the medals he was awarded were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Metal with 7 stars, Navy Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Bronze Star with "V." The Wallace family moved back to his family property in Pensacola where he took up his hobbies of vegetable gardening and antiques.

In retirement, his patient disposition, thoroughness, and hardworking nature, resourcefulness, contributed to his being good at the many new things he put his mind to - from caning chairs to building his own duck boat. He was known for being pleasant, and slow to anger.

Ned served as President of the Organic Gardening Club of Pensacola. As a boy Ned grew up bird hunting and fishing. With retirement he renewed his interest in these activities and also took up deer hunting, which grew into a passion for the remainder of his life. He was known to spend a considerable amount of time patiently waiting on the deer stands.

Jean was born in San Diego, CA. As the daughter of a Navy officer, she grew up between Annapolis, MD, where her father instructed at the US Naval Academy, and San Diego, CA, after her father accepted an active-duty assignment during WWII.

In the early 1950s, the beautiful Jean Thompson met a handsome young aviator named Ned Wallace on a blind date. They married in August 1952. Their lives were intertwined for the next 72 years. They were devoted to each other and the family they created.

She was a wonderful, busy mother who was always there when we needed her the most, offering support, wisdom, and tough talks but always providing open arms when welcoming home each of her children when they returned to the Pensacola homestead.

Anyone will tell you that life in the military involves moving every few years. Adopting the duties of a military spouse, Jean raised the five children as they moved across the US from station to station. While stationed in Great Britian, particular family memories include vacation trips across Europe in the family's VW van, as well as a trip on an English canal boat. At one notable event at a campground in France, she told a rough-looking group of motorcycle riders to repark their bikes so that a path to the bathroom would be available. They followed orders.

Over the years Jean's natural leadership skills-which her children might have describes as "bossy but caring" - made her a great fit as a Girl Scout Leader while the family was stationed in Virginia Beach, and then later in Great Britian. Upon returning stateside, she again volunteered with the girl scouts. Many former girl scouts may recall canoeing on Bayou Texar at the Wallace property. As imagined, our family ate a lot of Girl Scout cookies.

In later years, Jean adopted the role of a community activist. She joined the East Pensacola Heights Association (EPHA) in the fight against a cell phone tower that had been constructed along the shoreline of Bayou Texar. This involved attending numerous city council meetings and lobbying for a new ordinance. Eventually EPHA persevered and the tower was removed. More battles were in the future. Every year Ned & Jean helped place holiday wreaths on bayou bridge.

After the EPHA, Jean turned her efforts towards the Scenic Highway Foundation. As vice president, she worked diligently on efforts to beautify Pensacola's Scenic Highway which is now designated Florida Scenic Highway. Again, hours of effort were spent navigating through the difficult administrative path of land purchases and forging alliances with private and public entities. To acknowledge her efforts towards what is now known as the Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway, Jean was awarded the Gary Balogh Inspiring Excellence Award by the Florida Scenic Highway Foundation in November 2016. She was the second recipient of that award.

Our parents were quick friends to everyone and made outsiders feel welcome and accepted.

They were an advocate for social, environment and neighborhood activities, dedicating their time and resources to making the world a brighter place. True lovers of the outdoors, cooking and family. Our parents found beauty in life's simple moments and encouraged us all to do the same. Thank goodness for front porches and rocking chairs. On our parents' behalf, to those who felt their warmth and generosity, we thank you for being part of their lives and our lives.

The family would like to thank the caregivers, nurses, therapists and doctors from The Havens at Pensacola (formally The Haven of Our Lady of Peace).

To commemorate their remarkable lives and the memories we will cherish, a Memorial Visitation will be held from 10:00am until a Memorial Service begins at 11:00am Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, with Chaplain Ken Griffin officiating.