David Hardin Wallace

David Hardin Wallace, 94, left this earth for a better place on Feb. 10, 2026, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Receiving of friends will be at Weatherford Funeral Home in Oak Ridge on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 2-3:30 p.m. with funeral to follow.

He was born Dec. 26, 1931, in Chattanooga to Lewis Albert and Icie Hardin Wallace. He graduated from Chattanooga High School and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While stationed in Louisville, Kentucky, with the Air Force he met the love of his life, Virginia Josephine (Jo) Gabbard, and they married on Nov. 7, 1953, in Louisville.

David and Jo had lived in Oak Ridge since 1956 except for two years in Vienna, Austria, with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He retired from the Computing Division of Martin Marietta Energy Systems in 1993. He enjoyed teaching adult Bible classes for many years at New York Avenue Church of Christ and Highland View Church of Christ and served as an elder at both congregations for a total of 32 years. During the past few years, he enjoyed attending services at the Blockhouse Valley Church of Christ (home of his close friend Walker T. Smith). David also enjoyed traveling, reading, writing, golfing, volunteering with the church food pantry, studying courses from the internet, and spending time with family and friends. He was known for his quick wit and sense of humor.

David was a devoted husband to Jo for 70 years before she passed away June 29, 2024. He was predeceased by his parents; brother, William Spence Wallace; and sister, Mary Frances Wallace. He was a wonderful father to Donna (husband Mark Smith of Kingston), Cathy (husband Beaver Smith of Claxton), Robert (wife Connie of Winchester) and Nancy (husband Cary Chrisman of Oak Ridge).

He was a beloved grandfather to Daniel and Winter Smith (Kingsport), Richard and Meggan Smith (Lenoir City), Amy and Andrew Sharp (Powell), Emily and Matt Swecker (Greeneville), Charlie and Ashley Smith (Henderson), Wade and Christie Knapper (Knoxville), Stuart and Celeste Knapper (Winchester), Grace Chrisman (Knoxville) and Audrey Chrisman (Davis, Calif.); and great-grandfather to Bennett, Maddux, and Cadence Smith, Morgan and Riley Smith, Eden and Ella Sharp, Maggie and Laurie Smith, Henry and Hannah Swecker, Joel, Camryn, and Braden Knapper, and Noah and Parks Knapper. He prayed for each one of us and will be missed by all of us, but we look forward to seeing him again!

His family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff and residents of The Glen of Oak Ridge for the kindness and love shown to their father and to Seree, Robin, and Barbara for their excellent care.

In honor of his love of feeding the hungry, the family requests no flowers, but donations may be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. (secondharvestetn.org)