OBITUARY: George R. "Gove" Wallace
George R. "Gove" Wallace, 77, of Galatia, died 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, at the Carrier Mills Nursing Home losing his fight with cancer.
He was born on June 1, 1937, in Albuquerque, N.M., to the late George R. and Agnes Lester-Bliss Wallace.
He moved from Albuquerque, N.M., to here in the winter of 1974. That year was a bad cold winter, and when he told the story of moving here, he said his first reaction to his first Southern Illinois winter was "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
He served in the Army and the Army National Guard during the Korean War.
Most people knew him as "Gove" and for always driving coal and grain trucks. He was a truck driver and friend to many such as Stan Harrawood, David Harrawood, "Moe," Dan Gulledge, and "Tuffy," all of Galatia, Fricker Trucking, Chuck Maloney of Raleigh, and all of those that he drove for when he first moved here including all of the Denny and Simpson Family, employees, Bobby Gene Simpson, Reeder Trucking, Browns Trucking, Mike Church and many others I know we are forgetting.
He is survived by his grandson: Jeff and Tamy Manning of Galatia; great-grandson: Dakota Manning of Galatia; nephew: Buddy Bliss of California; and cousin: Pauline "Polly" Bliss of Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his parents: George and Agnes Wallace, hs life partner and love: Mamie McAnnally; sister: Udean Bliss Fricker; brother: Jasper Bliss; and two great-grandchildren: Holly Manning and Jeffrey Lee Manning.
"Gove" loved driving the big rigs and hauling coal. His last wishes were to not be buried, but to be cremated and his ashes to be spread at his friend and former employer's trucking yard so he could forever be with his trucks. Memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at the Galatia Community Center for all of "Gove's" friends and trucking buddy's. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to help with expenses.
Everyone he thought of as a friend. "Gove" is loved and will be dearly missed.
Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills has been entrusted with the arrangements.