Raymond Howard Wallace Jr.

Raymond Howard Wallace, Jr., 89, passed away peacefully in McLean, Virginia shortly before midnight on February 28, 2026. He was born in Columbus, Georgia as the oldest son of Fannie Surrell Rutland "Honey" Wallace and Raymond Howard Wallace, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Mary Elizabeth Smith of Savannah, Georgia, and Marion Emmett "Coot" Wallace of Upatoi, Georgia.

Raymond was a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in Geology, and Louisiana State University with a master's degree in Geology. As a graduate student, he served as a private consultant regarding a dispute in southern Mississippi between Adams County school board and Sun Oil Company. He also attended Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky -since renamed Asbury University- for two years, where he met his wife of nearly 68 years.

After completing his education, Raymond joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served with honor as a Captain from 1960-1966. He was awarded the Marine Corps expeditionary Medal and Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, 2 marksmanship badges, and Naval Aerial Observer wings.

Raymond was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for 34 years, beginning his career in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, as project chief of the United States Gulf Coast Hydrogeology Project and assistant chief of the Gulf Coast Hydroscience Center. Following the 1984 transfer of his position to Reston, Virginia, Raymond moved to McLean, Virginia. As a USGS hydrologist in Reston, he served as the Geothermal Energy and High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal liaison at Yucca Mt., Nevada, between USGS Headquarters and the U.S. Department of Energy. He also managed the Salton Sea Scientific Drilling project and helped launch the National Continental Scientific Drilling Program.

After his liaison service, where he authored multiple publications and received the Meritorious Service Award, Raymond returned to the USGS Water Resources Div. in the Branch of Nuclear Waste Hydrology. In 1986, he published work on geopressured-geothermal energy potential in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Basin and briefed the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the subject. He later received the Department of Interior Superior Service award for this Gulf Coast energy assessment. Toward the end of his career, he was asked by the USGS Director's senior science advisor to delay retirement for a year to advise the new Director on sensitive, multi-agency programs regarding high-level radioactive waste disposal sites involving the National Science Foundation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Energy. Raymond retired as a Hydrologist in 2000.

He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in McLean and was a member of the American Legion, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Geological Society of America, Fairfax Rod & Gun Club, and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.

Besides his abiding love for family, Raymond appreciated all things in nature and enjoyed collecting fossils, rocks, and minerals, and was an ardent bird watcher. He also found pleasure in rifle range practice, hunting, fishing, genealogy, reading, and travel with family.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Katharine Ritter Wallace; his sister, Elizabeth Jane Hobbs, of Auburn, Alabama; two children: Raymond Howard (Karen) Wallace, III, of Annandale, Virginia, and Mary Haviland (Ronald) Steele of Oakton, Virginia; three grandchildren: Ian Wallace of Annandale, Thomas Steele and Kate Steele of Oakton, Virginia; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A graveside service for Raymond will be held in Clayton, Alabama.

Donations may be made in memory of Raymond Wallace, Jr. to the American Legion, Post 270, 1355 Balls Hill Rd., McLean, VA 22101.