James Ralph Wallace

James Ralph “Jim” Wallace, 76, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at the Topeka V.A. Hospital. He had been at home near Lebo until two weeks prior to his death when he moved to the V.A. Community Living Center. He fought a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

He was born July 17, 1946 in El Dorado, Kansas the son of Leo and Esther Hawkins Wallace.

He grew up in the El Dorado and Potwin area with his parents and sisters, Mary and Linda. He attended El Dorado High School and graduated with the Class of 1963.

Jim proudly served in the United states Navy form 1963 until receiving a honorable discharge in 1967. During his time in the Navy he served as a pipefitter and welder on intelligence ship the USS Liberty. He was discharged early and was not on board when the ship was targeted during the six day war on June 8, 1967. Thirty four of his ship mates lost their lives and many more were wounded during the attack.

After working bridge construction with his dad, Jim and Cathy Nitcher were married in 1968. Together they raised their family in Ottawa. Jim and Cathy were later divorced.

Jim’s working years included a variety of jobs in car sales and owning and managing several restaurants. He enjoyed hobbies of playing softball and golf.

In 1994 he and Marilyn Edwards Freund were married at the Scranton Covenant Church. They lived at Pomona Lake where they ran the Pizza Shack. They later moved to Marilyn’s family farm near Lebo in 2001.

Jim grew to enjoy life in the country for the first time in his life. He learned to garden and care for the many animals at Heritage Hill Homestead. Summer Saturday mornings were spent on the corner in Lebo selling a variety of items at the Farmer’s Market.

He came to love the little Welsh community of Arvonia and enjoyed serving on the township board for several years.

Jim was an active member of the Lebo Baptist Church, serving as a Trustee as custodian and working in the kitchen ministry.

Jim will live on in the hearts and memories of his devoted wife, Marilyn of their home; children, Jimmy Wallace and his wife Lonette of Osawatomie, Jody Foster and her husband Jimmy of Republic, Missouri and Jarrod Wallace and his wife Pam of Arizona; step sons, Ryan Freund and his wife Edye of Carbondale, Rlyn Freund of Scranton; his sister, Linda Berger of Wellington; grandchildren, Chelsi Wallace, Jamee Smith, Bodhi Wallace, Paig Wallace, Brandy Watts, Whitney (Ben) Packwood, Shelby Foster, Christopher Burgien, Alexander Wall, Alexis (Andrew) McLerran, Nick (Alex) Freund, Maddy Freund, Kaylan Mulligan, Danika Freund; ten great-grandchildren with three great-granddaughters expected this summer; numerous extended family and a community of dear friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Ewing.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, April 7, 2023 at the Lebo Baptist Church. Inurnment will follow services at Arvonia Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Coffey County cancer Support Group or Hand In Hand Hospice and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home at P.O . Box #43, Lebo, Kansas 66856. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.