Virginia Ellen Robbins Wallace

Virginia Ellen Robbins Wallace, 96, of Austin, TX, passed away on August 28, 2026. Virginia was born on October 9, 1929, in a little yellow house in Leander, Texas, to Clyde and Mamie Giddens Robbins. Her father passed away from appendicitis when she was two weeks old, just days before the beginning of the Great Depression. Times were hard for Mamie and her three children. Facing financial hardship in 1931, Mamie made the difficult decision to send Virginia's two older brothers, Clyde Richard (Dick) and Olin Curtis, to live and be schooled at the Masonic Home and School of Texas in Fort Worth, a residential facility for the widows and orphans of Master Masons. At age four, Virginia joined her brothers at the Masonic Home, old enough to soon begin school. Clyde’s status as a Master Mason helped ease the strain on his family following his death. Virginia was able to return home to her mother and new stepfather, Bennie Morgan, in Austin in January 1938 when she was eight years old. Her brothers chose to remain at the Masonic Home to finish high school, where her brother, Curtis, played center for the famous “Mighty Mites” football team.

When Virginia moved back to Austin with her mom and the only father she ever really knew, “Daddy Bennie,” they lived at 1519 West 5th Street. In 1940, when 11 years old, Virginia began having painful attacks in her legs and hip. She was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, a rare hip condition affecting the blood flow in the ball-and-socket joint in children. She was sent to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in 1942 to undergo treatment, where she spent a month in the hospital, most of the time in traction. When Virginia would recount her time at Scottish Rite, she remembered the painful traction but was thankful for the opportunity to be healed. She always found the bright side!

Virginia attended Mathews Elementary, Allan Junior High, and Austin High School (Rio Grande campus). While at Austin High, Virginia was a proud officer on the Red Jackets drill team. She liked to reminisce about her time in high school — group dates, dances at Zilker Clubhouse, frozen custard and root beer floats at Sandy's, or a malt or sundae at Heep Lockhart's (they had juke boxes for dancing after school). While in high school, Virginia and Horace Samuel Wallace Jr. (known to all as Sonny), had their first dance date in 1945. From then on, they were rarely apart. While in high school, she worked summers for Sonny's family’s company, Wallace Engraving Company. Virginia graduated from Austin High School in January 1948 and attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, studying Fashion Design. After college, she went to work at the LCRA in Purchasing, where she was amused by the names of all the parts used in building the Wirtz and Starcke Dams.

On July 6, 1950, high school sweethearts Virginia and Sonny married at Central Christian Church in Austin, TX. That union lasted until Sonny’s passing in 2016. After marrying, Virginia worked as a typist at the Capitol for the Legislative Budget Board from August 1950 to April 1951, until the birth of their first daughter. They had four children, three girls and one boy, who were the pride and joy of their lives: Sunny Gayle (It was often joked, she was born 9 months and 1 hour after the wedding ceremony!), Jennifer, Teresa (Terry), and Robbin (Rob). During the years of her growing family, Virginia’s love of fashion design allowed her to create clothing for herself and her children. Her daughters were often in matching outfits in their younger years.

Virginia’s unfailing kindness and loyal support enabled the success of Wallace Engraving Company. A fabulous cook and hostess, she entertained friends, business associates, and Rotarians from all over the world. The continuous growth of Wallace Engraving Company allowed for the couple’s philanthropic endeavors, friendships from all walks of life, and travels worldwide with friends and family.

Virginia and Sonny led very active lives and had many, varying interests. From Virginia and Sonny’s first dance date in 1945, they never stopped dancing throughout their marriage. They were members of the Waltz Club and Mayfair Dance Club. They cut a beautiful swath across the dance floor with their graceful, flowing moves. They continued to dance until Sonny’s death in 2016. Virginia and Sonny were also big enthusiasts of the Austin Chamber Music Society and hosted countless musical soirees at their home overlooking Ladybird Lake. They supported many musicians throughout the Central Texas area and developed lifelong friendships. Virginia especially felt the music, and it truly touched her soul until the day she died.

Virginia also loved the outdoors. She treasured the opportunity to hunt and fish throughout her life. She enjoyed many years at the family’s Diamond W Ranch in Blanco County, house on Lake LBJ, and coastal house on Key Allegro in Rockport, TX. Virginia’s love of travel took her on numerous trips. There were many “last trips to London” and treasured family trips, including to Evergreen Valley Ranch in New Mexico when the children were young, Idaho for river rafting/fishing, San Francisco, New Orleans, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Switzerland for example. At home, she hosted friends and family throughout the years with her famous recipes of Old Fashioneds, Zutoni, horseradish sauce, and salad dressing! Speaking of her famous recipes, Virginia was known far and wide for her Old Fashioneds. The Old Fashioned became the official drink of the Wallace family and was served at all special occasions, or just because.

As the children grew and flew the nest, Virginia channeled her creativity into porcelain arts and watercolor painting. She was prolific in her painting and loved to create pieces for her family and friends. She was very active in the Porcelain Arts Club, and her work was often displayed at shows around Austin. Virginia hand-painted coffee cups for her loved ones to use at the family's Diamond W Ranch. Those cups are treasured to this day. Since her love of porcelain painting started later in life, her youngest grandchildren were given a personalized piece each year on their birthdays, usually cups and plates themed around whatever her grandchild was passionate about at the time, such as hunting, sailing, cars, or dogs. They still cherish these keepsakes, made with their grandmother’s love.

As Virginia and Sonny aged, they sold their home overlooking Ladybird Lake and moved into independent living at Querencia in 2009 where they led an active life and made many friends. There was even a special group called Old Fashioned Friends (OFF Group) that met on Fridays for happy hour to enjoy Virginia’s Old Fashioneds. The gatherings were always full of fun, and it was a special treat whenever one of the Wallace family received an invitation to join. Virginia lived at Querencia until 2020, when she moved in with two of her daughters, Sunny Gayle and Jennifer. She spent her time there enjoying the simple pleasures of jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and cozy mysteries, all while being pampered like the queen she was! Travel in this time period of her life consisted of extended stays in San Angelo with her daughter, Terry. She loved pasture rides to watch the sunset. In early 2026, she joined the “Neighborhood” community at Belmont Village in Westlake Hills, TX, and “brightened every corner.” She enjoyed the group activities and was always front and center, greeting everyone with a cheerful smile.

Virginia was a happy and optimistic lady of unpretentious grace and dignity. She was generous and a caretaker for the young and old. Some of her most-loved causes were Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Austin Chamber Music Center, Austin Community Foundation, DKR Alzheimer's Research Fund, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Kentucky.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Horace (Sonny) Wallace; her son-in-law, Mike Brookins; her mother, Mamie Morgan; her father, Clyde Robbins; her stepfather, Bennie Morgan; her brothers Dick Robbins and Curtis Robbins, and her parents-in-law, Horace and Hazel Wallace. She is survived by her children Sunny Casarez of Rio Rancho, NM, Jennifer Brookins of Bend, OR, Teresa (Terry) Wallace of San Angelo, TX, and Robbin (Rob) Wallace and daughter-in-law Julie of Austin, TX; grandchildren Ben Casarez (Aimee) of Rio Rancho, NM, Matthew Casarez (Vanessa) of Rio Rancho, NM, Chandler Brookins (Amber) of Bend, OR, Kaleigh Wallace LaDuca (Nick) of Austin, TX, and Jackson Wallace of Austin, TX; great-grandchildren Gus Casarez and Otis Casarez of Rio Rancho, NM, Marisa Romero of San Diego, CA, Nate Romero of Rio Rancho, NM, Reese Brookins of Bend, OR, and Lawson (Sonny) LaDuca of Austin, TX; her sister-in-law Kay Wallace Sanders of Austin, TX; nephews Michael Attas (Gail) of Waco, TX, and Tom Bobb of Austin, TX; nieces Vicki Attas Snyder (David) of Santa Fe, NM, Alison Sanders Irby of Austin, TX, and Nancy Sanders Snyder (Brian) of Austin, TX, as well as extended family, and friends.

Virginia was the last of 25 first cousins from the Maritta Ellen Sherman and Abram Finley Giddens family. Most were from the Leander and Williamson County areas of Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, DKR Alzheimer's Research Fund, or your favorite charity.

Celebration services will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on Sunday, October 11, at 2:00 pm, at 5416 Parkcrest Dr, Austin, TX 78731. A livestream of the service will also be available for those who cannot attend.