Born on October 27, 1946, to Floyd and Gertrude Wallace in St. Louis, Missouri, Richard Clark Wallace was known to his friends and family as Rick. He spent his formative years in Glendale at 825 Brookside—a home with a big yard and a neighborhood full of kids. It was a true "Leave It to Beaver" childhood, filled with adventure, camaraderie, and countless memories. As a Boy Scout, he forged lifelong friendships and took part in unforgettable experiences like canoeing the Boundary Waters of Canada and hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout.
He graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1964 and went on to earn his undergraduate degree in Geography and Economics from the University of Kansas in 1968. He then stayed on to complete his JD at KU Law School in 1971. His time in Lawrence coincided with the transformative years of the late 1960s, marked by the Vietnam War, civil rights protests, and a powerful cultural shift. Those years deepened his sense of justice and inspired a lifelong commitment to advocating for those less fortunate.
He married Sara Griffith in Neodesha, Kansas, and the two shared 57 wonderful years together. After passing the bar, he began his legal career with Wyandotte County Legal Aid and later helped found Kansas Legal Services in Topeka, continuing his mission to serve those who need it most. In 1978, he joined the Evans-Mullinix law firm, where he practiced law until his retirement in 2018. He was most proud of being a dad and grandfather, finding joy in his house full of women, even if it could be hard to get a word in.
A devoted fan of KU basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs, he was always happiest fishing on a Missouri river, playing tennis, or golf. He had a deep appreciation for jazz, the blues, and country music. His love for travel took him across the globe to Ireland, Germany, Paris, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and his favorite destination—New Zealand.
Rick will be remembered for his fairness, kindness, love of family, and for his raucous sense of humor. He was one of the good guys.
Survived by his spouse, Sara Wallace; daughter, Janie (Wallace) Slavens; son-in-laws, Michael Slavens and Richard Stanfield; and beloved granddaughters, Emma, Izzie, Ida and Lucille. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kate (Wallace) Stanfield; his siblings, Pat Leigh and Bob Wallace; and his parents.
Celebration of Life Service will be 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204. A visitation reception will follow at the funeral home until 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to: Kansas Legal Services, 712 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 200, Topeka, KS 66603. (Please write memorial donation for Rick Wallace on check).
