William M Wallace's Obituary
William M. Wallace was born in Troy New York on April 10, 1944. He was the son of Joseph and Eleanor Wallace (deceased) and the brother of Joseph , James, and Edmund Wallace (all deceased) as well as a sister Karen D’Agostino (deceased).
He attended Troy high School and received his GED while in the Army. He worked in the kitchen of St. Mary’s hospital in Troy where he met Kayong Ja You who also worked at the hospital.
Bill joined the Army in May 1961 . He married Kayong Ja You on August 25th 1963 at St. Peter’s in Troy NY.
Bill served in the Army from May 1961 to August 1984. Bill did his first tour in Vietnam in 1962 as an advisor. In 1966 to 1967 he went back over to Vietnam and was a combat unit and served in the war zone for 13 months. He would go back over one last time in 1969. At the end of 1969 he would be stationed in Seoul Korea where his wife joined him.
They had a daughter Eleanor who was born in Seoul Korea that same year.
Bill was awarded , Vietnam service medal, Meritorious unit commendation, Vietnam cross of gallantry with palms, Meritorious service medal with 2nd oak leaf cluster, army commendation medal 1st oak leaf cluster. And armed forces expeditionary medal, overseas service ribbon -2, overseas service bars -1 as well as overseas service ribbon -3, . Bill was awarded NCO professional Development ribbon -3 anUS Army gold recruiter badge with three sapphire achievement stars. He had a very distinguished 22 year career in the Army attaining the rank of command Sargent Major.
Bill went on the work 16 years in the US post office as a night supervisor in the Albany NY sorting facility. He would retire in 1999 and move to Palm Coast Florida with his wife Kayong Ja in 2000 and they would spend the next 22 years of his life traveling to Korea, Vietnam, China, Europe and many places throughout the United States.
Bill had many friends in New York and Florida as well as his wife’s relatives in Maryland. A story I’m often told is that Bill and Kay sponsored everyone of Kayyong Ja brothers and sisters and their families in the US while he was Stationed in Maryland. He and his wife helped all of the families relocate and get settled in the US with their families. Needless to say Bill had a heart of gold in terms of helping family and friends.
Bill and Kayong Ja raised their daughter Eleanor in Maryland and finally in New York where Bill ended his Military career. Eleanor was a graduate of Shaker High School and went to nursing school after graduation. Bill has several close friends one was Steve Jablonski and his wife Tammy from Hershey Pennsylvania, Steve served with Bill as a army recruiter and lived near him in Maryland. His other close friends were Ed and Young Supernaut who live around the corner from them in Palm Coast Florida. The last years of Bills life he came to depend on these friends for help and support while his health was diminishing. He also greatly relied on his sister in law Sandy Wallace for help and she also lived down in Palm Coast Fl. His daughter Eleanor relocated to Palm Coast FL in 2020 to help take care of her parents. Bill will be greatly missed to all who new him or crossed paths with him.
Bill was an avid bicycle rider where he started in Maryland and continued in New York and in Florida. He would do 25 miles a day at minimum 4-5 times a week. He was also very fond of long walks and he and Kayong Ja spent much of their time walking dancing and card playing. They had a very active social life and lived life to the fullest. They loved entertaining and had many parties with friends and family. They loved going to casinos and visiting relatives. Bill a flare for cooking and was a great host at any party he put on. RIP William Wallace we will miss you
Kayong Ja , Ellie, Joseph and all the family
Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family.
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