As a young man growing up in rural Alabama he enjoyed close family ties and the great outdoors. In his early teens his parents moved to Birmingham where Jim would finish high school and continue to live, work and retire.
Still in his teenage years, Jim met Alice May Hughes (Dixie) and the two eloped in order to marry. Although this youthful marriage did not last Jim and Dixie’s union was blessed with 3 sons, Steven, Michael, and Wesley Wallace.
Through a mutual friend, Jim met Barbara Durham and enjoyed 42 years of happy married life, raising children, working hard and enjoying their free time with friends and family.
Jim’s work life gravitated to the automotive industry and he became a Gear Head Pro. To help support his family he picked up extra money on weekends by driving in stock car races, fixing used cars to resell and scuba diving. Jim spent a number of years working with the Mr. Transmission chain. While in recovery from back surgery Jim saw an advertisement for a then, new idea, truck bedliners…….From this very first item, his aftermarket wholesale auto parts company, J. Wallace Enterprises was born, distributing throughout the southeast.
Selling the business in 1997 Jim thoroughly enjoyed the freedom that his retirement gave him, maintaining and showing his classic cars, a truck racing team, travelling throughout the United States in an RV and gathering new friends wherever he went. Always loving the water, boating and fishing Jim discovered the beauty of the great lakes and spent a number of summer seasons enjoying Petoskey, Michigan.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Edna and Carl, his brother Wayne Wallace, his wife Barbara and son, Michael.
Jim is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Love Osburn) Wallace, two sons Steve (wife Laura) and Wesley (wife Cheryl) both of Birmingham, their children Stephanie Hill-Wallace (husband Jason), Steven Wallace (wife Holli), Jada Wallace, Matthew Wallace (wife Candice) and Haley Wallace as well as seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Wallace will be held at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, at 2:00 pm with visitation beginning one hour prior at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery.
