Clarence Donald “Donnie/Wally” Wallace, age 64, of Chula Vista, California, was called from this Earth too soon-Wednesday, November 21, 2018. Having been stricken by a series of debilitating illnesses, Donnie is now free to walk, laugh, hunt and fish without pain and with the freedom of youth.
With a roguish smile always on his face, Donnie was a lover of life. As a child, Donnie loved music and dancing. As a young teen, his interest turned to hunting and fishing including an incident with a thought-to-be-dead squirrel that nearly took a few fingers once waking up from a shotgun-induced knockout. As most boys do, later in his teen years, Donnie developed a fascination with fast cars. It was after crashing one of those cars into the Malvern Railroad Depot, leaving no trace but a few discolored replacement bricks, that he made the decision to follow in his family's footsteps in joining the US Navy.
After graduating Malvern high School in 1972, Donnie enlisted in the Navy. He attended boot camp and later Boiler Tender School at Great Lakes Naval Station. He was then assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Midway, whose homeport was Yokosuka, Japan. During that time, the Midway participated in the evacuation of South Vietnam in Operation Frequent Wind. While at port in Subic Bay, Phillipines, Donnie became entranced with the love of a woman, who would become his wife, the love of his life, “Aida”. Donnie returned to the states for advanced schooling and was reassigned to the USS Ranger. Shortly after being reassigned, news broke globally about a boiler room fire on the Ranger. Names were not released, but the boiler room crew had perished. The family was desperate for news. Finally, word got to Donnie to call home. By God’s grace, Donnie as crew chief had been airlifted and temporarily reassigned to the USS Kitty Hawk to oversee repairs at that time.
In the late 80’s, Donnie was assigned as the Naval Recruiter in Jonesboro, AR. This was Donnie’s only assignment close to family. Though he was there a few short years, the time coincided with his father’s long hospitalization. This allowed Donnie and his family to be close home in that difficult time-an opportunity he would not have had if assigned most anywhere else.
Donnie’s last ship assignment was the USS Acadia. While assigned to the Acadia, the First Gulf Conflict arose and the ship was ordered to the Persian Gulf. During the war, Donnie found great pleasure and escape in fishing off the ship during the day. At night the ship was absolutely dark. It was Donnie’s thoughts of home, his wife and boys and his faith in God that carried him through the long nights. Because of his experience in the Persian Gulf, Donnie retired from the Navy after 20 years.
After retiring from the Navy, Donnie decided to stay in the San Diego area. The many times that he was away at sea, Aida and the boys were home in San Diego. This is where his boys had grown up. Donnie worked an additional 20 years for the VA Medical Center in La Hoya Village Drive, San Diego, CA.
Donnie, affectionately nicknamed Wally by Aida and the boys, was a family man who lived the American dream. He was a great father who led by example-he showed up to work every day and worked hard to provide for his family. Wally loved to fix things around the house and sharing stories of his many adventures in the Navy. He was very proud of David working towards a master’s degree. They enjoyed their time together watching movies over and over again. He and Josh shared a love of football. Wally loved to watch football-college or pro - he was always watching and rooting for the underdog teams. He loved an upset. Josh would always go to him for advice about fantasy football because he read all the football news and watched every game. Wally taught David and Josh to hunt and shoot. They would hunt squirrels and bring them home to Aida to cook. Wally was an adoring husband, his love for Aida was profound and deep. Her joy was his joy. Her sorrow was his. Together the family dreamed of someday moving to Arkansas to be closer to family.
Throughout Donnie’s life and all of his world travels the constant that he could always rely on was fishing. The ponds on the family property were a favorite fishing spot any time he came home. Donnie would find an opportunity to fish at any and every Navy port. His letters home describe in detail how good the fishing was, whether it was better to fish from the pier or a boat, anything anyone needed to know about fishing that spot. He wrote of missing Aida, missing the boys, and missing home, but at least there was some time for fishing.
Growing up in Malvern, Donnie was raised in a close-knit southern family. With his grandparent, uncles, aunts and cousins within walking distance much of his youth, the family was large and full of love. Donnie was raised in the Cooper Assembly of God Church, and he also loved to see his church family when home on leave.
It is this love of family that brings Donnie home one last time.
Donnie was preceded in death by his father Clomer Wallace and grandparents Ezra (Jessie) Wallace and Clarence (Nellie) Abner.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Aida and sons David and Josh of Chula Vista, CA; mother Kathryn Wallace Winkle; sister Pam (Leon) Perry; brother Mike (Jann) Wallace of Malvern; uncle Ova Wallace of Alexander, 5 nieces, 1 nephew. 4 great nieces, 5 great nephews, and 1great-great niece and a host of cousins.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 1:00-2:00pm at Regency Funeral Home Chapel. Donnie will be laid to rest with graveside services at Magnet Cove Cemetery at 2:30 pm with Brother Jay Hobbs of the Crystal Hill Baptist Church will be officiating.
The Family is at 2593 Babcock Street.
Honorary pallbearers are James “Bussie” Robinson, Lee Jay Wallace and Jerry Wallace.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Disabled American Vets DAV or Magnet Cove Cemetery.
With a roguish smile always on his face, Donnie was a lover of life. As a child, Donnie loved music and dancing. As a young teen, his interest turned to hunting and fishing including an incident with a thought-to-be-dead squirrel that nearly took a few fingers once waking up from a shotgun-induced knockout. As most boys do, later in his teen years, Donnie developed a fascination with fast cars. It was after crashing one of those cars into the Malvern Railroad Depot, leaving no trace but a few discolored replacement bricks, that he made the decision to follow in his family's footsteps in joining the US Navy.
After graduating Malvern high School in 1972, Donnie enlisted in the Navy. He attended boot camp and later Boiler Tender School at Great Lakes Naval Station. He was then assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Midway, whose homeport was Yokosuka, Japan. During that time, the Midway participated in the evacuation of South Vietnam in Operation Frequent Wind. While at port in Subic Bay, Phillipines, Donnie became entranced with the love of a woman, who would become his wife, the love of his life, “Aida”. Donnie returned to the states for advanced schooling and was reassigned to the USS Ranger. Shortly after being reassigned, news broke globally about a boiler room fire on the Ranger. Names were not released, but the boiler room crew had perished. The family was desperate for news. Finally, word got to Donnie to call home. By God’s grace, Donnie as crew chief had been airlifted and temporarily reassigned to the USS Kitty Hawk to oversee repairs at that time.
In the late 80’s, Donnie was assigned as the Naval Recruiter in Jonesboro, AR. This was Donnie’s only assignment close to family. Though he was there a few short years, the time coincided with his father’s long hospitalization. This allowed Donnie and his family to be close home in that difficult time-an opportunity he would not have had if assigned most anywhere else.
Donnie’s last ship assignment was the USS Acadia. While assigned to the Acadia, the First Gulf Conflict arose and the ship was ordered to the Persian Gulf. During the war, Donnie found great pleasure and escape in fishing off the ship during the day. At night the ship was absolutely dark. It was Donnie’s thoughts of home, his wife and boys and his faith in God that carried him through the long nights. Because of his experience in the Persian Gulf, Donnie retired from the Navy after 20 years.
After retiring from the Navy, Donnie decided to stay in the San Diego area. The many times that he was away at sea, Aida and the boys were home in San Diego. This is where his boys had grown up. Donnie worked an additional 20 years for the VA Medical Center in La Hoya Village Drive, San Diego, CA.
Donnie, affectionately nicknamed Wally by Aida and the boys, was a family man who lived the American dream. He was a great father who led by example-he showed up to work every day and worked hard to provide for his family. Wally loved to fix things around the house and sharing stories of his many adventures in the Navy. He was very proud of David working towards a master’s degree. They enjoyed their time together watching movies over and over again. He and Josh shared a love of football. Wally loved to watch football-college or pro - he was always watching and rooting for the underdog teams. He loved an upset. Josh would always go to him for advice about fantasy football because he read all the football news and watched every game. Wally taught David and Josh to hunt and shoot. They would hunt squirrels and bring them home to Aida to cook. Wally was an adoring husband, his love for Aida was profound and deep. Her joy was his joy. Her sorrow was his. Together the family dreamed of someday moving to Arkansas to be closer to family.
Throughout Donnie’s life and all of his world travels the constant that he could always rely on was fishing. The ponds on the family property were a favorite fishing spot any time he came home. Donnie would find an opportunity to fish at any and every Navy port. His letters home describe in detail how good the fishing was, whether it was better to fish from the pier or a boat, anything anyone needed to know about fishing that spot. He wrote of missing Aida, missing the boys, and missing home, but at least there was some time for fishing.
Growing up in Malvern, Donnie was raised in a close-knit southern family. With his grandparent, uncles, aunts and cousins within walking distance much of his youth, the family was large and full of love. Donnie was raised in the Cooper Assembly of God Church, and he also loved to see his church family when home on leave.
It is this love of family that brings Donnie home one last time.
Donnie was preceded in death by his father Clomer Wallace and grandparents Ezra (Jessie) Wallace and Clarence (Nellie) Abner.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Aida and sons David and Josh of Chula Vista, CA; mother Kathryn Wallace Winkle; sister Pam (Leon) Perry; brother Mike (Jann) Wallace of Malvern; uncle Ova Wallace of Alexander, 5 nieces, 1 nephew. 4 great nieces, 5 great nephews, and 1great-great niece and a host of cousins.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 1:00-2:00pm at Regency Funeral Home Chapel. Donnie will be laid to rest with graveside services at Magnet Cove Cemetery at 2:30 pm with Brother Jay Hobbs of the Crystal Hill Baptist Church will be officiating.
The Family is at 2593 Babcock Street.
Honorary pallbearers are James “Bussie” Robinson, Lee Jay Wallace and Jerry Wallace.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Disabled American Vets DAV or Magnet Cove Cemetery.
Clarence Donald “Donnie/Wally” Wallace, age 64, of Chula Vista, California, was called from this Earth too soon-Wednesday, November 21, 2018. Having been stricken by a series of debilitating illnesses, Donnie is now free to walk, laugh, hunt and fish without pain and with the freedom of youth.
With a roguish smile always on his face, Donnie was a lover of life. As a child, Donnie loved music and dancing. As a young teen, his interest turned to hunting and fishing including an incident with a thought-to-be-dead squirrel that nearly took a few fingers once waking up from a shotgun-induced knockout. As most boys do, later in his teen years, Donnie developed a fascination with fast cars. It was after crashing one of those cars into the Malvern Railroad Depot, leaving no trace but a few discolored replacement bricks, that he made the decision to follow in his family's footsteps in joining the US Navy.
After graduating Malvern high School in 1972, Donnie enlisted in the Navy. He attended boot camp and later Boiler Tender School at Great Lakes Naval Station. He was then assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Midway, whose homeport was Yokosuka, Japan. During that time, the Midway participated in the evacuation of South Vietnam in Operation Frequent Wind. While at port in Subic Bay, Phillipines, Donnie became entranced with the love of a woman, who would become his wife, the love of his life, “Aida”. Donnie returned to the states for advanced schooling and was reassigned to the USS Ranger. Shortly after being reassigned, news broke globally about a boiler room fire on the Ranger. Names were not released, but the boiler room crew had perished. The family was desperate for news. Finally, word got to Donnie to call home. By God’s grace, Donnie as crew chief had been airlifted and temporarily reassigned to the USS Kitty Hawk to oversee repairs at that time.
In the late 80’s, Donnie was assigned as the Naval Recruiter in Jonesboro, AR. This was Donnie’s only assignment close to family. Though he was there a few short years, the time coincided with his father’s long hospitalization. This allowed Donnie and his family to be close home in that difficult time-an opportunity he would not have had if assigned most anywhere else.
Donnie’s last ship assignment was the USS Acadia. While assigned to the Acadia, the First Gulf Conflict arose and the ship was ordered to the Persian Gulf. During the war, Donnie found great pleasure and escape in fishing off the ship during the day. At night the ship was absolutely dark. It was Donnie’s thoughts of home, his wife and boys and his faith in God that carried him through the long nights. Because of his experience in the Persian Gulf, Donnie retired from the Navy after 20 years.
After retiring from the Navy, Donnie decided to stay in the San Diego area. The many times that he was away at sea, Aida and the boys were home in San Diego. This is where his boys had grown up. Donnie worked an additional 20 years for the VA Medical Center in La Hoya Village Drive, San Diego, CA.
Donnie, affectionately nicknamed Wally by Aida and the boys, was a family man who lived the American dream. He was a great father who led by example-he showed up to work every day and worked hard to provide for his family. Wally loved to fix things around the house and sharing stories of his many adventures in the Navy. He was very proud of David working towards a master’s degree. They enjoyed their time together watching movies over and over again. He and Josh shared a love of football. Wally loved to watch football-college or pro - he was always watching and rooting for the underdog teams. He loved an upset. Josh would always go to him for advice about fantasy football because he read all the football news and watched every game. Wally taught David and Josh to hunt and shoot. They would hunt squirrels and bring them home to Aida to cook. Wally was an adoring husband, his love for Aida was profound and deep. Her joy was his joy. Her sorrow was his. Together the family dreamed of someday moving to Arkansas to be closer to family.
Throughout Donnie’s life and all of his world travels the constant that he could always rely on was fishing. The ponds on the family property were a favorite fishing spot any time he came home. Donnie would find an opportunity to fish at any and every Navy port. His letters home describe in detail how good the fishing was, whether it was better to fish from the pier or a boat, anything anyone needed to know about fishing that spot. He wrote of missing Aida, missing the boys, and missing home, but at least there was some time for fishing.
Growing up in Malvern, Donnie was raised in a close-knit southern family. With his grandparent, uncles, aunts and cousins within walking distance much of his youth, the family was large and full of love. Donnie was raised in the Cooper Assembly of God Church, and he also loved to see his church family when home on leave.
It is this love of family that brings Donnie home one last time.
Donnie was preceded in death by his father Clomer Wallace and grandparents Ezra (Jessie) Wallace and Clarence (Nellie) Abner.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Aida and sons David and Josh of Chula Vista, CA; mother Kathryn Wallace Winkle; sister Pam (Leon) Perry; brother Mike (Jann) Wallace of Malvern; uncle Ova Wallace of Alexander, 5 nieces, 1 nephew. 4 great nieces, 5 great nephews, and 1great-great niece and a host of cousins.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 1:00-2:00pm at Regency Funeral Home Chapel. Donnie will be laid to rest with graveside services at Magnet Cove Cemetery at 2:30 pm with Brother Jay Hobbs of the Crystal Hill Baptist Church will be officiating.
The Family is at 2593 Babcock Street.
Honorary pallbearers are James “Bussie” Robinson, Lee Jay Wallace and Jerry Wallace.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Disabled American Vets DAV or Magnet Cove Cemetery.
With a roguish smile always on his face, Donnie was a lover of life. As a child, Donnie loved music and dancing. As a young teen, his interest turned to hunting and fishing including an incident with a thought-to-be-dead squirrel that nearly took a few fingers once waking up from a shotgun-induced knockout. As most boys do, later in his teen years, Donnie developed a fascination with fast cars. It was after crashing one of those cars into the Malvern Railroad Depot, leaving no trace but a few discolored replacement bricks, that he made the decision to follow in his family's footsteps in joining the US Navy.
After graduating Malvern high School in 1972, Donnie enlisted in the Navy. He attended boot camp and later Boiler Tender School at Great Lakes Naval Station. He was then assigned to the aircraft carrier the USS Midway, whose homeport was Yokosuka, Japan. During that time, the Midway participated in the evacuation of South Vietnam in Operation Frequent Wind. While at port in Subic Bay, Phillipines, Donnie became entranced with the love of a woman, who would become his wife, the love of his life, “Aida”. Donnie returned to the states for advanced schooling and was reassigned to the USS Ranger. Shortly after being reassigned, news broke globally about a boiler room fire on the Ranger. Names were not released, but the boiler room crew had perished. The family was desperate for news. Finally, word got to Donnie to call home. By God’s grace, Donnie as crew chief had been airlifted and temporarily reassigned to the USS Kitty Hawk to oversee repairs at that time.
In the late 80’s, Donnie was assigned as the Naval Recruiter in Jonesboro, AR. This was Donnie’s only assignment close to family. Though he was there a few short years, the time coincided with his father’s long hospitalization. This allowed Donnie and his family to be close home in that difficult time-an opportunity he would not have had if assigned most anywhere else.
Donnie’s last ship assignment was the USS Acadia. While assigned to the Acadia, the First Gulf Conflict arose and the ship was ordered to the Persian Gulf. During the war, Donnie found great pleasure and escape in fishing off the ship during the day. At night the ship was absolutely dark. It was Donnie’s thoughts of home, his wife and boys and his faith in God that carried him through the long nights. Because of his experience in the Persian Gulf, Donnie retired from the Navy after 20 years.
After retiring from the Navy, Donnie decided to stay in the San Diego area. The many times that he was away at sea, Aida and the boys were home in San Diego. This is where his boys had grown up. Donnie worked an additional 20 years for the VA Medical Center in La Hoya Village Drive, San Diego, CA.
Donnie, affectionately nicknamed Wally by Aida and the boys, was a family man who lived the American dream. He was a great father who led by example-he showed up to work every day and worked hard to provide for his family. Wally loved to fix things around the house and sharing stories of his many adventures in the Navy. He was very proud of David working towards a master’s degree. They enjoyed their time together watching movies over and over again. He and Josh shared a love of football. Wally loved to watch football-college or pro - he was always watching and rooting for the underdog teams. He loved an upset. Josh would always go to him for advice about fantasy football because he read all the football news and watched every game. Wally taught David and Josh to hunt and shoot. They would hunt squirrels and bring them home to Aida to cook. Wally was an adoring husband, his love for Aida was profound and deep. Her joy was his joy. Her sorrow was his. Together the family dreamed of someday moving to Arkansas to be closer to family.
Throughout Donnie’s life and all of his world travels the constant that he could always rely on was fishing. The ponds on the family property were a favorite fishing spot any time he came home. Donnie would find an opportunity to fish at any and every Navy port. His letters home describe in detail how good the fishing was, whether it was better to fish from the pier or a boat, anything anyone needed to know about fishing that spot. He wrote of missing Aida, missing the boys, and missing home, but at least there was some time for fishing.
Growing up in Malvern, Donnie was raised in a close-knit southern family. With his grandparent, uncles, aunts and cousins within walking distance much of his youth, the family was large and full of love. Donnie was raised in the Cooper Assembly of God Church, and he also loved to see his church family when home on leave.
It is this love of family that brings Donnie home one last time.
Donnie was preceded in death by his father Clomer Wallace and grandparents Ezra (Jessie) Wallace and Clarence (Nellie) Abner.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years Aida and sons David and Josh of Chula Vista, CA; mother Kathryn Wallace Winkle; sister Pam (Leon) Perry; brother Mike (Jann) Wallace of Malvern; uncle Ova Wallace of Alexander, 5 nieces, 1 nephew. 4 great nieces, 5 great nephews, and 1great-great niece and a host of cousins.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 1:00-2:00pm at Regency Funeral Home Chapel. Donnie will be laid to rest with graveside services at Magnet Cove Cemetery at 2:30 pm with Brother Jay Hobbs of the Crystal Hill Baptist Church will be officiating.
The Family is at 2593 Babcock Street.
Honorary pallbearers are James “Bussie” Robinson, Lee Jay Wallace and Jerry Wallace.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Disabled American Vets DAV or Magnet Cove Cemetery.
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