Nelda Mae Wallace

Nelda Mae Wallace died May 24, 2008 in Dudley, Texas. The visitation will be 5:00-7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at the Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at University Church of Christ, 733 EN 16th. Burial will follow at the Dudley Cemetery. Nelda was born July 16, 1938 in Abilene to James Edward and Frances Kathryn "Roberts" Taylor. She was a 1956 graduate of Abilene High School. She moved to California for a while returning to Abilene in 1981. Nelda resided in Germany from 1985-1990. She was a Financial Planner for Mutual of New York. She married Eric Richard Wallace in LasVegas, NV on March 2, 1985. Nelda was a long time member of the Kiwanis Club of Abilene and University Church of Christ. Nelda was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Eric R. Wallace of Abilene; two daughters, Sheree Custred of Rhome, TX, and Cindy Dean and her husband, Andy of Roscoe, TX; one sister, Althea Hummel and husband, Bill of Burlington, Iowa; four grandchildren, Stephen, David, Celeb, and Lauren. Nelda had a spirit of love that she shared freely with everyone she met. Children and adults alike were drawn to her because of her spirit. She was always thinking of others. She frequently wondered aloud about how someone was doing...someone we hadn't talked about in days or weeks. She was a financial planner for many years and was a top performer for Mutual of New York while in Germany. When co-workers asked how she did it, she told them that she treated the people she was trying to help like she hoped someone else would treat her children. She took the time to really teach them about financial matters and help them plan for their futures. She always wrapped up with an invitation for them to attend church with us. Dozens accepted her invitation. Only God knows the harvest that has come from the seeds she sowed. She loved to share her spirit when she saw someone having a bad day. She would say, 'I'm going to make that person smile before I leave here." She made so many of us smile before she left us. We will miss her smile terribly until we see her again in Heaven. If you would like to send a memorial, here are two charities near to Nelda's heart: The Smile Train 245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2201 New York, NY 10016 www.smiletrain.org They repair cleft palates for children in developing countries who have no hope of repair otherwise. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 332 N. Lauderdale Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org They conduct research on children with newly diagnosed, untreated or suspected cancer and other devastating diseases. They share the results of their research freely with other hospitals. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay. Thank you all for your love and prayers for Nelda over the years. Her sweet, loving spirit was a blessing to many and your cards and prayers on her behalf lifted her every day.