Sue Wallace Sullivan

She married her high school sweetheart, Farrell Junior Sullivan on the thirtieth of May 1954. Her in-laws had hoped their son and his new wife would settle nearby and teach high school. However, Sue and “Sully” had other plans. Instead, Sully joined the Air Force and together they traveled the world. During their 18 years of marriage, the Sullivan’s and their children moved 41 times.

In 1972, while the family was stationed in the Philippines, Col. Sullivan’s fighter plane was shot down in Viet Nam and he was listed as POW/MIA. Sue and her three children relocated to Austin, Texas, where she began building a life without her husband. Her first job as a single parent was with Austin National Bank. She then moved on to a long-time career with the Texas Department of Human Resources, retiring from the Department in 1993.

For 11 years she was a tenacious advocate for her own family and other families of those unaccounted for in US conflicts, serving as President of the National League of Families. She met with six U.S. Presidents, and world, state and local leaders in attempts to learn the fate of U.S. servicemen missing in action. Long after the Viet Nam conflict ended, Sue still traveled to Southeast Asia to learn all she could about the fate of her husband and others who were still missing.

Sue was active in the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for 35 years, serving terms as President of the Austin Star Chapter and Treasurer for the Association’s National Conference.

She never remarried, instead focusing her life on building a career, caring for her family and creating a fiercely loyal group of wonderful friends. Through the years, Sue and her globetrotting friends roamed the world, traveling from Alaska to Hawaii, throughout Europe, the British Isles and Asia.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Farrell; parents, Andrew and Eva Wallace; three sisters, Viola Talley, Ruth Williams and Willie Houser; two brothers, Robert and Walton Wallace, and an infant daughter.

She is survived by her children, Michael Farrell Sullivan and wife, Tracy; Thomas William Sullivan and wife, Karen; Kimberly Suzann Shultz and husband, Wesley;. Sue is also survived by eight grandchildren: Brandon Farrell Sullivan; Paul Marshall Sullivan; Suzann Lee Shultz; Christina Marie Shultz; Tiffani Rose Sullivan; Thomas Ryan Sullivan; Stephani Taryn Wood and Ryan Scott Campbell.

A visitation is slated for Sunday, the twenty third of October 2011 from two o’clock until four o’clock in the afternoon at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX, with a memorial service to follow. Interment will be on Tuesday, the twenty fifth of October 2011 at half past ten in the morning at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX.

The family wishes to thank the outstanding doctors, nurses and staff at Seton Hospital for their warm and generous care.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue’s honor may be made to the Col. Farrell Sullivan Scholarship; Caddo Mills ISD; 100 Fox Lane, Caddo Mills, Texas 75135 OR to ABWA Dollars for Scholars; c/o Sharon Herring, 9401 Hunters Trace; Austin, TX 78758.

Condolences may be made to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.