April 7, 1928 — Feb. 23, 2016

Preston L. Wallace, 87, of Dowagiac, Michigan passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. Preston was born April 7, 1928, to Arthur and Hazel (Preston) Wallace in Salina, Kansas, the fifth of six siblings. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and graduated from Portland Union Academy (now Portland Adventist Academy) in 1949.

Music was an important part of Preston’s life and he belonged to the Knights of Song Quartet in Portland, Oregon. He then became second tenor in the Quiet Hour TV Gospel Quartet before becoming a Seventh-day Adventist singing evangelist and pastor.

He received a BA in Music Education from Pacific Union College, Angwin, California. He taught music at Highland Academy in Tennessee and Napa Junior Academy in California. He returned to pastoring and then became interested in helping people live healthier lives. He attended Loma Linda University in California and received a Master’s Degree in Public Health. He worked as a health educator at Madison Hospital in Tennessee and Weimar Newstart Health Center in Weimar, California. Preston concluded his 35 years of ministry as a Seventh-day Adventist pastor in Maine.

He married Virginia L. Bauer March 22, 1951 and was predeceased by her on Jan. 26, 1996. He was also predeceased by a daughter Joane L. Maize on Nov. 14, 1981. After the death of his first wife, Preston married Melody Newcomb. He volunteered at the Poland Spring Institute as well as being a part-time pastor in Maine. In retirement they moved to Ohio and then to Michigan to be near family.

Through the years one of the highlights of Preston’s career was performing the marriages of 60 couples. He never failed to show his love for God, his family and friends. Many people were blessed by his winning smile and caring ways. As Preston came near the end of his life, he was confident in his hope in the resurrection and second coming of Jesus. He looked forward to the day when all his loved ones would be reunited in a new heaven and a new earth.

He is survived by his wife Melody, son David (Nancy) Wallace of California; two daughters—Wanda (Robert) VanRaden of Pennsylvania, and Shirley (Ernest) Buck of Michigan; one son-in-law Lonnie (Kimberly) Maize of California; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Ruth Lodahl of Washington and a brother Gerald Wallace of Montana, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 6, at 1 p.m. at the Dowagiac Seventh-day Adventist Church at 410 Hill Street, Dowagiac, Michigan with Pastors Ted Toms, Jim Micheff, Jr. and Jeff Akenberger officiating. Visiting hours will be on the same day beginning at 11:30. All are invited to a lunch following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dowagiac Seventh-day Adventist Church, Adventist World Radio, or the Quiet Hour Ministries. Those wishing to leave a memory or condolence of Preston online may do so at www.clarkch.com.