He was born in 1924 in Paducah, Ky., but was raised in Highland Park community of Chattanooga; was of the Methodist faith, and loved to play golf.
Wallace was retired from the U.S. Navy and as Master Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard having served tours of duty in WWII, Korean Conflict and Vietnam.
Wallace was involved with and lifelong member of the Elks, Shriners and the Masons.
He was preceded in death by his parents Silas and Edna Ford, sisters, Edna Mary Owens, JoAnn Pharr, Peggy Sue Hutson.
He is survived by his son, Terry (Micki) Ford, of Thermopolis, Wy., daughters: Kelly Clark, of Lebanon, Ohio, Kimberly (Larry) Daniel, of Milton, Ga.; sister, Ailas Stafford; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, at St. Barnabas Retirement Center with the Reverend Buckley Robbins officiating. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services, Franklin Strickland Pinkard Bryan Smith Funeral Directors, 1724 McCallie Ave., 265-4414.