Jess "J.B." Wallace

Jess, J.B. Wallace, Jr., 84, died Tuesday, December 24, 2013, at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings, LA, with Joan, his bride of 59 years, by his side. J.B. was born on November 25, 1929 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Jess and Myrtle Cartwright Wallace. He moved to Sulphur in 1943 when his father was transferred to Cities Service. Theirs was one of the first families to settle in the new area of Maplewood. J.B. graduated from Sulphur High School and attended Sowela and McNeese State College. In 1949, he went to work for Cit-Con as an operator, retiring in 1989 as a unit supervisor over steam, lube, and vacuum units He was a longtime member of Henning Memorial Methodist Church, where he was head of the maintenance committee for many years. J.B. served his country honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, and traveling. In more recent years, he enjoyed helping his wife with the flowers and feeding the hummingbirds. He also served alongside other Korean War veterans as a volunteer reading tutor for 1st graders at R.W. Vincent Elementary in Sulphur. Former students who are now grown still recognized him and were excited to see Mr. Wallace! J.B. could fix almost anything that was broken, using his talents to help his family and many others. If he knew of someone in need, even total strangers, he wanted to help, but would ask to remain anonymous. He was a kind and gentle man who was fiercely devoted to his family, especially his sweetheart. He also had a mischievous streak and loved to laugh and kid. He is survived by his wife, Joan Louise Busch Wallace Sis ; two daughters, Diane Thibodeaux (R.J.) and Claire Sylvest (Dan); and one son, Burton Ross Wallace, all of Sulphur; six granddaughters, Jessica T. Wofford and Katherine Wallace of Lake Charles, Lauren and Allison Sylvest and Lexi and Alyssa Thibodeaux of Sulphur; and one great granddaughter Addisyn Dupre of Lake Charles; brother in law, Herman Bucky Busch (Jean) of Sulphur and numerous nieces and nephews. J.B. was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle and Jess Wallace; his in laws, Herman and Neva Busch; sister in law, Janice Busch; two sisters, Arlena Schultz and husband Marvin and Almeda Ninemire and husband Kenneth; and nephew, Carter Busch. Funeral services will be held at Henning Memorial United Methodist Church at 1 pm, Saturday, December 28, 2013. The family will receive guests from 5-8 pm on Friday, December 27, 2013 at Johnson and Robison Funeral Home and will resume on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at the church from 12-1 pm. Memorials in Mr. Wallaces name may be made to Henning Methodist, The Alzheimers Association, or the Wounded Warrior Project. Words of comfort may be shared at www.robisonfuneralhome.com.