Billy Jim Wallace

Billy Jim Wallace, age 55, beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather passed away January 17, 2012. The memorial service will be held Saturday, January 21st, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 So. Pioneer Drive, at 10:00 a.m. Officiating the service will be Chaplain Captain Brian Hall and Pastor Stan Allcorn. Arrangements are being made by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Billy was born January 18, 1956 in Abilene, Texas, son to Bill and Dorsie Wallace and brother to Clara and brother-in-law to her husband Steve Ricco. He graduated from Cooper High School in 1974 where he was a member of the Cooper Cougar Golf Team. He then went on to Elsah, Illinois where he attended school at Principia College and graduated with a BA in Political Science. While there he met the love of his life, Althea (Sistie) Kellogg-Clarke. They married in 1978 and moved to Arlington, Texas where he worked for a private airline. In 1979 they moved back to Abilene where he owned and operated a private business for many years. Then in 1991 he joined the Abilene Independent School District and began working at Abilene High as a special education teacher. In 2001 he added coaching duties as the boys' Head Golf coach for AHS. He spent 22 years with his Abilene High family and will be dearly missed by his colleagues and students. Billy loved life and most enjoyed hunting, fishing, coaching, and spending time with friends and family. He was an avid sports enthusiast and had a great passion for coaching. He will be deeply missed by the many lives he touched through Pop Warner football, AHS Golf, the Bluesox organization, and numerous softball teams throughout the years. Spiritually, Billy was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist and was acting President of the Board. He spent many years teaching Sunday school and showed great faith in his beliefs and foundations. Billy is survived by both parents, sister, brother-in-law, and his immediate family; wife Sistie, daughter Lauren and her husband Omar Mendoza and their three children Micah, Alicia, and Mateo, son Andrew Wallace of Lubbock TX, daughters Caitlin, Blair, and Cameron Wallace all of Abilene. He was a loving father and son to his family and a great friend to all that met him. We will all miss him dearly. Memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ, Scientist 1201 South Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605.