John “Jack” Wallace, 83 of South Wilkes-Barre, and formerly of the East End section of Wilkes-Barre, passed away Thursday morning, December 11, 2014, at Erwin Hospice, St. Luke’s Villa, Wilkes-Barre.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on August 12, 1931, he was the son of the late James A. and Helen (Joyce) Wallace.

Jack attended Holy Saviour Elementary school and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Class of 1949.  He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War.  Following his discharge from the Army, he attended 9 years of night school at Kings’ College and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics in 1963.

Jack was employed for 28 years by the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company and 19 years with the Citizens’ Voice.  He served 30 years as a news reporter at the Luzerne County Court House.  This period included many major court cases.  He was associated with the Wachovia Arena, currently the Mohegan Sun Arena, for 5 years and voluntarily worked at the Farmers Market on Public Square.

Jack served numerous years as a lector, usher, and acolyte at St. Therese’s Roman Catholic Church in South Wilkes-Barre.  He was also active in many parish projects and activities.  He served 28 years as President and 7 years as Vice-President of the Wilkes-Barre Local 120, The Newspaper Guild, and 11 years as Treasurer of the Middle Atlantic District Council.  He attended 25 international conventions of The Newspaper Guild.  He was an avid sports fan and played in various sports as a young man.  He was a diehard Notre Dame Fan and Los Angeles Dodgers Fan.  Jack served 16 years as an umpire in St. Therese Little League, now known as the South Wilkes-Barre Little League.

He was a member of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Greater Wilkes-Barre, The Donegal Society and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  One of his greatest loves was traveling, including 38 trips to Ireland, 8 to England, Scotland, and Wales, 9 to Hawaii, 3 to Canada, 2 to Puerto Rico, and once each to France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Mexico.

Jack was married to the Love of His Life in 1957, the former Margaret Kroll, who passed away in 1969.

Preceding him in death in addition to his wife Margaret, are his brother James F. Wallace.

Surviving are his daughter Karen Gaydosh and her husband John, Hanover Twp., sister Mary Joan Vodzak and her husband Bernard, Wilkes-Barre, brother Thomas Wallace and his wife Jean,  Nova Scotia, Canada, numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack’s family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Kerrigan and the staff of St. Luke’s Villa, and St. Therese Residence for all of the kindness and care shown toward their father.

Funeral will be held Tuesday at 8:45 am from the Corcoran Funeral Home, Inc., 20 South Main Street  Plains, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception, 134 South Washington Street  Wilkes-Barre, PA  18701, with Father J. Duane Gavitt, pastor, officiating.  Interment will be held in the parish cemetery, Hanover Twp.  Friends may call Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception, or to St. Jude Children´s Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105.