James Edward “Jim” Wallace, 74, a resident of Mill Creek, passed from this life Monday afternoon, March 5, 2012 at his home. Born to James William Wallace and Irene Louise Casey Wallace on Saturday, April 17, 1937, in Elkins. On September 15, 1958, he married Cecelia Sarah Ward at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Elkins. They enjoyed fifty-three years of marriage. Jim was a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, MD, in May of 1954. He attended Georgetown University and West Virginia University. Jim returned home in 1957 to enter the family business, Wallace Bakery, with his father. Later he joined Joseph L. Malobicky and formed the Malobicky Construction Company. Jim entered the world of finance when he became a director of the Bank of Mill Creek in 1961. In 1991, Jim and Robert Minear were instrumental in joining the First Bank of Parsons and the Bank of Mill Creek to form the current Mountain Valley Bank. He had served as President and Chairman of the Board of Mountain Valley Bank, and was chairman of the Board of Mountain Valley Bankshares at the time of his death. Wallace was named as Director Emeritus of the Mountain State Forest Festival Association Board of Directors in 2001. He was an active member of the Randolph County Emergency Squad, a member of the Elks Club, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He was named to the West Virginia Aeronautics Commission in 1998 where he served twelve years. Jim represented the Institute for International Development as a delegate to the Russian Banking Conference in 1991. He served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Davis & Elkins College and was named to the Beta Alpha Beta Business Fraternity. Wallace was a member of Boy Scout Troop 77 in Randolph County from 1948 to 1951 and obtained the rank of Life Scout. He attended the National Jamboree in 1950 at Valley Forge. He served as scoutmaster of the troop in 1958 and 1959. On March 19, 2001, Jim was named as the James E. West Fellow by the Allohak Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In December of 2005, he was presented with a Lifetime Membership of the Tygart Valley Lions Club, a membership he continued until his death. He was active in the organization of the Randolph County Arts Council, helping to secure the location for the facility and serving on the organizing board of directors. Surviving are his wife, “Cece”, and four children: James W. (Jay) and wife, Mary Beth of Beverly, Sally Decker and husband, Jeff, of Hickory, NC, Margaret Woodworth and husband, Rick, of Burlington, and Casey and wife, Denise, of Elkins, ten grandchildren: Sarah Decker Greer and husband, Ryen, Katherine Decker Rogers and husband, Chris, Christian Decker, all of Hickory, NC, Ashley Wallace Walker and husband, Tripp of Crozet, VA, James C. Wallace of Beverly, Jessica, Will, and Don Woodworth of Burlington, Matthew and Brendan Wallace of Elkins, three great grandchildren, Jones and Cecelia Walker of Crozet, VA and Sawyer Greer of Hickory, NC. A public reception will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Parish Hall of St. Brendan’s Catholic Church from 2 until 5PM. At 5 PM, a Wake Service will be held by the Very Rev. Donald X. Higgs, VF. Following the Wake Service, friends will be invited to share memories of Jim. On Monday, Jim will be moved to St. John’s Chapel at Huttonsville where the Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11AM. The Very Rev. Donald X. Higgs, VF will be the Presider and interment will follow at the Brick Church Cemetery at Huttonsville. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Jim’s memory to the Randolph County Community Arts Center, P.O. Box 3111, Elkins, WV 26241, Allohak Council #618, 1340 Juliana Street Parkersburg, WV 26101, Randolph County Emergency Squad, 2 11th Street, Elkins, WV 26241, or the charity of your choice.
