Walter Kenneth Wallace

January 17, 1935 - March 6th, 2018

“The Man, the Myth, the Legend”, Walter Kenneth Wallace passed away after a brief illness, March 6th in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Walter, the “Man”, was born on January 17th 1935 in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was a resident there until 1962 when he moved with his young family to Springboro, Ohio and lived there for 56 years, until the time of his death. Walter attended Portsmouth High School and graduated in the class of 1954. While in High School he was an outstanding athlete who began as a freshman playing offensive guard for the Varsity Football team which was undefeated his senior year and ranked 2nd in the state.

Walter worked at Monsanto Mound for over 30 years. During his employment there as a Health Physicist, he worked on several NASA missions including Ulysses and Galileo. As an expert in the field of radiation, he was a first responder to the 3-Mile Island accident in 1979.

Walter, the “Myth”, was ever a teacher, a seeker of truths, a lover of a good deli sandwich, and above all an inspiration to his family and others on what the ideal man, father and husband should be. He was a dedicated husband, a model father to five daughters, a loving “Papaw” to seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His loved ones remember his dignity, his decency, his dry sense of humor and the incredible depth of his knowledge and feeling. Never forcing upon them his passion or wisdom, he taught them that truly great men lead by example.

Walter, the “Legend”, married Louella Kallas on November 17, 1956 and together they raised daughters, Denise Anne, Linda Kaye, Kathleen Sue, Cynthia Jo and Teresa Marie. Walter was devoted to his girls and was an active participant in their many activities. In return he was adored; not only by his family, but by all who knew him. Due to his easy going nature and absurdist sense of fun, the neighborhood kids flocked to the Wallace house. Walter could always be counted on to organize some game or sport to keep them entertained. Without self-aggrandizement or fanfare, he welcomed and included every child.

Preceded in death by his beloved daughter Denise Wallace-Hamby, brothers Donald and Larry Wallace, and parents Hazel (Cooper) and Marion “Jack” Wallace. Walter is survived by his wife of 61 years, Louella (Kallas), his daughters Linda Wiley, Kathleen Wallace, Cynthia Wallace (Stuart), Teresa Wallace-Gunning (Thomas), granddaughters Tarah Sullivan (Corey), Kirah Hasty (Craig) and Kayla Hamby, grandsons Micah Wiley, Nick Hamby, Spencer and Preston Gunning, great-grandchildren Claire and Clark Sullivan and Arianna Hasty, Son-in-law Steve Hamby and sister Janet Rue.

Visitation will be held Friday March 9, 2018 from 6:00-9:00 pm at Anderson Funeral Homes, 40 North Main Street Springboro, Ohio 45066.

“Men of few words are the best men. (3.2.41)” - William Shakespeare

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to Diabetes Research Institute Foundation at: Diabetesresearch.org