John Wall

WALL, JOHN WINTHROP, 88 died peacefully and in comfort on February 11. He was the husband of the late Mary Stevenson Wall and was born in Providence on Christmas Eve 1924 to Ashbel T. Wall and Mary (Brooks) Wall. He was the youngest of four brothers all of whom predeceased him. John is survived by his daughter Mary "Polly" Wall Coe Daly and husband Robert W. Daly, and a son Ashbel Tingley Wall II and wife Maria DeCarvalho, all of Providence. He also leaves 6 grandchildren: Mary Stevenson Coe and husband Thomas P. Kuhn, Lucy Holley Wall and husband Robert W. Jones, Lt. JG Livy Marion Coe IV, Ashbel Tingley Wall III, Robert William Daly Jr. and Ann Marsh Daly, John attended Gordon School, Providence Country Day and graduated from St. George's School. Following his wartime graduation from Yale University class of 1946, he served as a naval officer in the Philippines after which he returned to Providence and began his career by sorting checks at the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company. It was there that he met his wife of 61 years. He was recalled to the Navy during the Korean War as a Lieutenant and stationed in Japan where the second of their two children was born. At the end of his deployment, John returned to Hospital Trust where he rose through the ranks. He became the bank's President in 1981 and retired as Vice Chairman in 1986. In 1991, John was called back to serve as Chairman of the bank and retired for a second time in 1992. A civic minded individual, John was actively involved in many community activities as well as charitable and philanthropic endeavors. He was a life long supporter of the United Way as a solicitor during numerous campaigns, Chair of the Trust and Foundation Division and a member of the Board of Directors. He was honored for his commitment as recipient of the organization's Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award in1996. He also served as Chair of the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation, a trustee of Providence College, and of the Rhode Island School of Design and as a Board member of the Rhode Island Foundation which bestowed on him the Inspiring Partner Award in 2007 for outstanding philanthropic work in the community, the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the Providence Preservation Society, Rhode Island Hospital, the Rhode Island Historical Society, Community Preparatory School and Justice Assistance. He was also a Rhode Island Commodore. A faithful congregant of Grace Church in Providence, John held the position of Senior Warden on the church's vestry and was also the Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island for many years. In the corporate sector, John served on the boards of The Providence Journal Company and the A.T. Wall Company. He was a member of The Hope Club, Agawam Hunt and St. Anthony's fraternity. A memorial service will take place at Grace Church, 175 Mathewson Street, Providence on Monday at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of John Wall may be made to Grace Church, Community Preparatory School, or the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.