John Murray Wallace Jr. died among family at his home in Marion, Alabama, June 25, 2013, five days short of his 86th birthday. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Marion Presbyterian Church in Marion. A public viewing will precede the service from 10 to 11 a.m.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Jane Palmer. Survivors include his wife, Betty Wallace; sons, Stephen and William and their mother, Nell Wallace; Stephen’s wife, Anna; stepchildren, Robert, Hubert and Scott Raley, and Regina Stradley; and siblings, Marievelyn Hughey, Lavonia Smith, David Wallace and Zoe Langner.
John Murray was born June 30, 1927, in Sprott, Alabama, the oldest son of John Murray Wallace Sr. and Katherine Eiland Wallace. He grew up on the family farm and attended Suttle Elementary, Marion High School and Marion Military Institute. He served in the U.S. Navyduring the final months of World War II and again during the Korean conflict.
After receiving a degree in business administration from Auburn University, John pursued a career in agribusiness, becoming a successful executive with the Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) in Decatur, where he headed the company’s fertilizer department.
John was a member of Marion Presbyterian Church as well as Westminster and Bethany Presbyterian churches in Decatur. He was an avid golfer and assisted with the junior golf program after returning to Perry County in retirement.
Kirk Funeral Homes Marion Chapel directing.
