John Wallace was a retired WWII naval veteran; he received the Silver Starr while serving on the USS COD submarine in the South Pacific and China Seas. He was a man of great service; to his family, the communities where he lived and his country in a time of war.
After WWII, John graduated from Purdue University with an Electrical Engineering degree. He served many large mining and manufacturing companies in the US and abroad.
John was an avid hunter and fisherman in his younger years. As he matured his connection with nature encouraged him to just observe rather than to hunt or fish. His last 23 years were spent here in Estes Park. He built his home then became known as the friendly man waving at passersby under his American flag. His pal and loyal dog T-Bone was always by his side. When he wasn't waving, he could be found sitting at his table writing poetry. During his last five years, he and his good friend Kris Jacobs produced a book of his best one hundred poems called Mountain Men. Read more about this very special man in Victor Anderson's 'Easy Ride Pard' article in the Friday, August 14th Inside & Out.
John died peacefully in his sleep at his home with his lifelong family friend Al Wilson and caregiver Ruth Heinen by his side. John was under the compassionate and loving care of Hospice of Estes Valley and Dr. Guy Vander Werf of Estes Park Medical Center.
John is survived by two nephews, Pat Overman of Giddings, TX and Scott Overman of Marion, IN. He is preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, his parents, Saxon and Esther Wallace and sister Shirley Overman.
At John's request, there will be no funeral or memorial services. We will have a celebration of John's life for friends and family on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 11:00am at Sweet Basilico for a light lunch and cash bar. For those interested in knowing John's final resting place, we will meet at Estes Valley Memorial Gardens at 10:00am.
Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to Hospice of Estes Valley, NPR Radio, or the Pet Association of Estes Park c/o Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517.
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Published in Estes Park Trail-Gazette on Aug. 14, 2015
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