David Maltby Wallace

David Maltby Wallace, age 92, passed away on February 21, 2021 surrounded by his loved ones in San Antonio, Texas. He was born a Yankee in Evanston, Illinois, on April 4, 1928 to Elizabeth and Frank Wallace. David, also known as Dave, attended Evanston Township High School, and graduated from Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut in 1946. He then attended Yale University and graduated with a degree in Engineering. After graduation, Dave worked with the U.S. Gypsum Company in Chicago, and was transferred to San Antonio in 1952 with the opening of a new engineering office. There, he met Mary Elizabeth Hill, better known as Betty, and they were married on November 28, 1953. Betty and Dave were parents to three children, and grandparents to two granddaughters. Dave was a proud great-grandfather to six great-grandchildren who affectionately called him “Gumpa”.

Dave continued his career by obtaining his licence as a professional civil engineer and working at the San Antonio River Authority where in 1962 he became chief engineer. Dave was in control of flood prevention including dams, bridges, pipelines, and railroad locations. He then established his own engineering business, David M. Wallace P.E., Inc. and acquired The Hudson Corporation of Texas which manufactures industrial materials for water treatment and purification for commercial businesses. Upon retiring, he passed ownership of Hudson Corporation to his children.

Dave had a love of trains, and in 1964 he and three other train enthusiasts established the Texas Transportation Museum. The objective of the museum is collecting, restoring, and operating various types of surface transportation, and Dave enjoyed educating and imparting his love of trains on young and old alike. Dave served as Chairman Emeritus in its later years. Betty and Dave often enjoyed traveling by train with their friends. He collected Lionel trains, and set them up for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to operate. Gumpa enjoyed watching the joy the trains brought them. He loved the sound of a train whistle!

Dave and Betty enjoyed playing golf together, and were longtime members of the San Antonio Country Club. Dave also enjoyed hunting and fishing. In 1987 he bought a small ranch in Moore, Texas for his family to enjoy. Many memories were made of hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and caring for the small longhorn herd at Moore Hollow Ranch. Dave was a member of Alamo Heights Presbyterian Church, where he previously served on the board as an elder.

Betty and Dave had celebrated nearly 56 years of marriage when Betty went to meet our Lord in 2009. Several years later, Dave was fortunate to meet another amazing woman at a Texas Transportation Museum meeting, and it was love at first sight! Dave married Carolyn Coyne of Boerne, Texas on January 6, 2018 when he was 89 years old. They enjoyed each other’s company for his remaining years, and Carolyn became a beloved member of the family.

David Maltby Wallace was preceded in death by his parents Elizabeth Wallace and Frank Wallace, his sisters Elizabeth (Betsy) Doehlert and Harriet McConnell, and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Wallace. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Coyne, his three children, Sarah Elizabeth (Betsy) Hoffman and her husband Richard (Rocky) G. Hoffman Jr., David Maltby Wallace Jr. and his wife Michelle, and Anne Hill Wallace, his granddaughters Jennifer (Hoffman) Harrison and her husband John, and Kristy (Hoffman) Morgan and her husband Michael, and his great-grandchildren, Alex, Claire, Katelyn, and Hailey Harrison and Blake and Liza Morgan. Dave was loved by many and will be missed, but his memory and “joie de vivre” will live on for years to come.