Obituary of LTC Rex M. Wallace, Sr. Ret.

LTC REX MILFORD WALLACE, SR.

September 16, 1930 – May 18, 2022

LTC Rex Milford Wallace, Sr. (retired), age 91, of Newell, Alabama, passed away May 18, 2022. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 23, from noon until the memorial service, which will begin at 2 pm in the Benefield Funeral Home Chapel.  The interment will follow with full military honors at the Union Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Blackburn Wallace; brothers: Joe Wallace, Robert “Bob” Wallace, and Hilton Wallace; sisters: Lillie Mae Browning, Jackie Cobb, Norma Weldon, Faye Holloway, Mattie Kay Holloway, Sue Waldrop, and Betty Jane Wallace. 

Survivors include his brother, Wayne Wallace; his sister, Foy Saxon; his sons: Rex Wallace Jr (Patsy), Steve Wallace, and Rance Wallace (Sylvia); daughter: Sharon Wallace; daughter-in-law: Angela Wallace; grandchildren:  Rex Michael Wallace (Jaime), Jarrett Wallace (Kirsten), Brooke Wallace, Dane Wallace, Brandon Coblentz (Danielle), Bobby Troyer (Misty); great grandchildren: Kyleigh Heaggans, Branson and Cadin Coblentz, Eli and Abel Troyer; plus many nieces and nephews.

He was born on September 16, 1930, in Elba, Alabama, to Robert Milford and Lola McKay Wallace. He graduated from Handley High School and Jacksonville State University with Bachelors and Masters degrees.  He started his military career at age 17 in the National Guard in 1947.  After graduating from JSU, he was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the US Army Artillery and sent to the front line fighting in Korea.  In 1968, he was sent to Vietnam as Assistant Fire Support Coordinator of 48% of Vietnam. There he directed fire missions for the Battleship USS New Jersey, approved B-52 airstrikes, and directed combat fire support missions where needed to support the United States forces in Vietnam.  His military career also included two tours in Europe during the Cold War.

 He traveled extensively during his career and along with his wife and family, lived in various states and abroad. 

During his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Three Overseas Bars, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and Sharpshooter Designation. 

He retired from the Army at the age of 40 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He then taught school at Woodland High School, served as Principal of Folsom Elementary School, and was Adult Education Coordinator before retiring to become a full time farmer.