J. Donald Wallace, of Pletcher Avenue in Niles, died at 7:52 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. He was 84.

He was born on July 3, 1926 in Saint Augustine, Fla. to William and Ida (Hill) Wallace and has lived in NIles most of his life, graduating from Niles High School.

He was employed by the New York Central Railroad and retired from Conrail following 45 years of service.

He enjoyed golfing at area courses, hunting and fishing and vegetable gardening. He also cared for his family.

On March 29, 1949 in NIles, he married the former Gertrude Clarke with whom he celebrated the 61st anniversary of that wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Gertrude Wallace; their daughters Vickie (Mark) Nolan and Kathleen (Noah) Johnson, both of Niles; grandchildren Tracee, Stacie, Aimee, William, Jessica, Ashley and Tiffany; great-grandchildren LeeSonn, KeTryn, ZiEn, SudDynn, Loryn, Haley, Kali and Hayden; sisters Patsy Hipshear of Niles, Valdona Melloh of Cocoa, Fla.; brother William Wallace of Houston, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, William Wallace who died on July 13, 2000.

Funeral services for J. Donald Wallace will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends between 6 and 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Don Wallace may be made to the American Heart Association.