Franklin Delane Wallace

Franklin DeLane Wallace, a resident of Foley, Alabama, passed away on February 19, 2025 at the age of 92. Frank was born on October 10, 1932 in Brantley, Alabama to J.C. and Quinnie Kimbro Wallace. During the height of the Great Depression, his family moved to Columbus, Georgia where Frank graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. His talent as a student and a musician, helped pave the way for Frank to attend the University of Georgia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1956. After a brief tenure as a teacher, Frank passed the Civil Service Exam and began a new career as a Federal Employee with the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. At the same time, he also served in the U.S. Army Reserves. While living in an apartment in the Woodley Park area of the city, he met his upstairs neighbor, a young woman from La Plata, Maryland named Sara Bradley. They married on June 2, 1961.

Shortly thereafter, Frank’s career took him to the Treasury Department office in Atlanta, Georgia. While there, Sara and Frank welcomed their first child, Jonathan, in February,1963. Another promotion took the young family to Columbia, South Carolina where they welcomed their daughter, Elaine, in March, 1966.

In 1967, Frank switched to the Department of the Navy, serving first at the Consolidated Civilian Personnel Office at the Charleston, South Carolina Navy Supply Center. In 1970, he became the first civilian to receive the Navy Fellowship in Manpower Management, a grant that would send him to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In December, 1971 he received a Master’s Degree in Government. He was promoted and became the personnel director of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. For his work there, he was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award. His service culminated in his promotion to personnel director for the Office of Naval Research, a position from which he retired in 1988. On the occasion of his retirement, he was given the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award.

Frank was a loving husband and a devoted father and grandfather, reveling in the joys of family life. He also was a faithful Christian and dedicated member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), serving multiple terms as an elder for congregations in Virginia and South Carolina, and generally showing up whenever the church door was open. Perhaps his greatest joys were working in his yard, sitting on his beautiful back porch, going out to lunch, and spending quality time with his loving family.

Franklin is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sara, his son Jonathan Wallace (Kimberly), his daughter Elaine Wallace Isley (Kenneth), granddaughters Erin Wallace (AJ Evans) and Taylor Wallace, grandsons Andrew Wallace, Jacob Isley, and Zachary Isley, and great granddaughter, Emilia Wallace Evans. 

A Memorial/Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2:00PM with a reception to follow at First Presbyterian Church in Foley. Memorials should be directed to First Presbyterian Church, 195 East Berry Avenue, Foley, Alabama 36535.