Thomas Edward Sheridan Halsburgh Wallace

WALLACE (Ret), WO Thomas E.S.H. April 22, 1944 – May 31, 2011. The family of Thomas (Tom) Wallace, a long-time resident of Bear River, are sad to report of his passing at Yarmouth Regional Hospital after a brief illness. He was the eldest child of Doris (LeBlanc) Wallace and the late Thomas Wallace of Halifax. He is survived by his three devoted children; Thomas (Lisa) of Lower Sackville, Lorraine (Jean-Luc) Doridam of Dartmouth, and William (Nicole) of Clementsvale, as well as grandchildren Nicholas, Alexander and Kathryn. Besides his children, Tom is survived by his loving sister Mary Ann (Paul) Crowley of Halifax; nephews Jason, Trevor and Robbie; nieces Tomma Lee, Lisa, Terri and Kara; close and special friend Barbara Hemsley of Digby; and the mother of his children, Valda Acker of Waldec West.

Born in Middleton, Tom was an infant when he and his mother crossed the North Atlantic by convoy bound for Scotland during the closing months of WWII to reunite with his father, who served in the R.A.F. His childhood was spent in Beith, North Ayrshire (Scotland). The close-knit family of four returned to Canada in 1956, settling in west-end Halifax. At 17 years of age, he was one of fifteen Royal Canadian Air Cadets (529 Atlantic Squadron) who travelled to Dallas to meet with President John F. Kennedy, who presented each Honour Cadet with the John Glenn Medal, an honourary Texas citizenship and an autographed portrait. Two years later, in 1963, Tom (a.k.a. "TESH") enlisted in the R.C.A.F., the start of a distinguished career in the Canadian military's police, intelligence and security communities. His assignments spanned from his first posting at RCAF Station Baccaro (later CFB Barrington) in 1964 through to his retirement as WO I/C MP at CFB Cornwallis in 1989. Postings also included CFS Sydney, CFB Bagotville, CFB Uplands, CFB Rockcliffe, CFB Trenton, CFB Ottawa and NDHQ. Following his retirement from the Canadian Forces, he worked with the NS Department of Public Prosecution. In the community, he was a member of the Masonic fraternity (Trent Lodge #38, Trenton, ON), the Deep Brook-Waldec Lions Club, the Scouting movement, the choir of Hillsboro (Bear River) United Church and the Royal Canadian Legion (Bear River Branch #22).

Visitation 7-9pm Friday, June 3 with Legion Service at 8pm in Jayne's Funeral Home, 7 Birch Street, Digby. Funeral services 11am Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Hillsburgh United Church, Bear River. Rev. Peter Atkinson presiding. Following the service there will be a public celebration of Tom's life at the Bear River Legion. private interment at Mount Hope Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest-book at www.jaynesfuneralhome.com. Donations in Tom's memory may be made to the Yarmouth Regional Hospital Foundation (902-749-1669) or to the Alzheimer's Society of Nova Scotia (902-422-7971). Family flowers only, by request.