William Wallace

William (Bill) Wallace formerly of Brandon FL, passed on Wednesday (July 14, 2010) in Stamford CT, with his youngest daughter by his side. Bill was born December 11, 1915 in Elizabeth, NJ to Charles and Harriet (Southhall) Wallace, and grew up in Cranford, NJ. He later moved to Westfield, NJ when he married Letitia Martin in 1936.

Bill was the last of the Wallace clan of five brothers and one sister, outliving everyone by four years. It was a very talented family of singers and dancers. Bill loved to sing and would do so upon request for anyone who he met. His memory of people and events from the past was legendary.

He worked as a cost clerk for Western Electric for fifteen years. Bill and Letitia had three children during this period; Sally, James, and Nancy. In 1951 Bill moved his family to Brandon, Florida where he owned and operated a poultry farm for fifteen years. There, his youngest daughter Judy, was born in 1953. He always said that he lived life through his children whose careers in entertainment were his pride and joy.

In 1966 he sold the farm and took up selling insurance for NY Life. Later Bill opened Brandon Travel which he operated for fifteen years expanding it to three locations. In 1977 Bill married Eleanor Gill and in 1987 he sold the agency and went into retirement.

Mr. Wallace was predeceased by his first wife Letitia and eldest daughter Sally Jenkins (who died in an auto accident in March 2006) who, with her husband Jack Jenkins, were well known entertainers in the Tampa area. April, 2006 Bill moved to Stamford, Connecticut to live with his daughter Judy and her husband Sean Emmett. He spent his last years entertaining new friends with wonderful stories of his past. He especially loved to sing old Scottish songs in his brogue. He was loved by everyone he met and was a wonderful father and friend. His family will miss his optimistic voice and encouraging words. Bill was one of a kind. We miss him terribly but are happy that he is finally at peace.

He is survived by his children James Wallace, Nancy (Wallace) Leake, Judy (Wallace) Emmett, and Bill's second wife, Eleanor (Gill) and her children Julia Blines, Richard Gill, and Peter Gill, granddaughters Letitia Doyle, Erin Emmett, Kelsey Emmett, grandsons, Todd and Ryan Jenkins, and eight great-grandchildren.

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