Oma Rae Wallace

Oma Rae Wallace Our cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away on March 12, 2013 at her Good Samaritan residence that had been home to her for many years. Oma Rae was born to Calvin Ellis and Nellie Skelton on June 16, 1914 in Joy, Texas. She was married to Earl Burton Wallace, her beloved husband of sixty-seven years. They met in their senior year of high school in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Oma Rae and Burton were just friends in high school and didn't begin a courtship for several years. They both recalled that they both "just knew" they were to be with each other almost from their first date, a marriage, so to speak, "made in heaven." Oma Rae and Burton married on April 13, 1936 at the First Baptist Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Oma Rae and Burton were also long time members of Mesilla Park Community Church and shared a deep faith in Jesus Christ, a faith that strengthened their commitment to each other and saw them through many challenges they would face in their years together. Oma Rae attended New Mexico State University before working for the Department of Welfare as a social worker while Burton attended pharmacy school in Denver, Colorado. After Burton's graduation, they moved to Las Cruces, where Burton started his career as a pharmacist and Oma Rae started her new career as homemaker. Burton worked at Standard Drug Store before starting his own drugstore, which he ran in partnership with Otto Griggs. The store, located in the middle of the downtown area next to the Rio Grande Theater, was called Griggs and Wallace Pharmacy until Griggs' retirement, when the name was changed to Wallace Pharmacy. After their last child went to college, Oma Rae assisted Burton in the drugstore. Oma Rae is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Burton Wallace, and her daughter, Carole Beth Castle. Oma Rae is survived by her daughter, Judy Hildebrand and Judy's husband, Barry Hildebrand, and Oma Rae's daughter, Jeanne Garland. She is blessed with many grandchildren, including Christy K. Nieto and her husband, Hector; Carrie Castle and her significant other Edward Berroteran; Kelly Klepper; Kyle Hildebrand and Kyle's wife Tiffany; Melyssa Garland Luther and her husband Jesse; Matthew Garland and his wife Challee; and Stephen and Jacob Garland. Great-grandchildren include Alexis, Emily, Joshua, and Ivanna Klepper; Hunter and Mason Hildebrand; Jeffrey, Steven, and Gabriel Nieto; Brianna Berroteran; Lucy Luther; and Ryan and Avery Garland. Great-great grandchildren include Leilany Sophia Nieto. Oma Rae is also survived by her niece Charlotte Boaz and Charlotte's husband John, who will attend Oma Rae's Memorial Service. She is also survived by Oma Rae's niece Nelda and Nelda's husband Jim Brockman. A Celebration and Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Getz Funeral Home Chapel. Contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Society, Las Cruces Village, 3025 Terrace Drive, Attn: Cherry Jamison, Director of Resource Development (575.556.2119). PDF Printable Version