It is safe to say he has friends from all over the world and is known for his signature thumbs up.

viewing will be held at the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, Inc., 519 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA on Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Please come prepared to make remarks and share memories of Raymond beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Raymond Clifford Wallace, Jr., 98, passed away peacefully at home on Christmas Day, December 25, 2023. Ray was a decorated veteran who severed in WWII with the 507th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the D-Day Evasion June 6, 1944 and later was captured becoming a POW until March 1945.

Ray was born January 22, 1925 in Lyleville, Pennsylvania to his parents, Raymond and Geraldine Wallace. He married his wife and mother of his 13 children, Hannah Lucille Wagner, May 1949. They were married for nearly 70 years until Hannah passed December 21, 2018. They resided in the town of Windburn before moving to Columbia in 1971.

Ray retired from Armstrong World Industries in 1993 at age 68, though continued to work until 93 years of age as a security guard.

When he wasn't working, he enjoyed gardening and cracking jokes. In the past 6 years he has made several trips abroad to participate in D-Day Ceremonies in France, Netherlands, and Belgium as well as Pearl Harbor. It is safe to say he has friends from all over the world and is known for his signature thumbs up.

Ray was a lifetime member of the Beers VFW Post 7043 in Coalport. He participated in many parades over the years, including being the Grand Marshall. He is a life member of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter 82nd Airborne Association and was a member of the Paul Revere Leber Post #372, American Legion, Columbia.

He and his son, Roger Wallace was recently invited to the 26th Annual Conference and American Valor Program in Washington, D.C., but his health had started taking a turn and he could not make the trip.

Surviving are the following children: Linda wife of Dwight Eck, Columbia; Diane wife of Jacob Kline, Jr., Marietta; Betsy wife of Dennis Brock, Columbia; Boyd Wallace, Elizabethtown; Raymond Wallace III., Columbia; James Wallace, Columbia; Kevin husband of Robin Wallace, Manheim; Beverly wife of Paul Sholl, Columbia; Lisa Taylor, Dumfries, VA; Roger Wallace, Columbia; Drew Wallace, Raystown; Brett Wallace, Columbia; his sister, Shirley Palosky, Irwin, PA; and brother, Charles Wallace, Lyleville, PA; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Victoria Roob and grandchildren: Danielle Eck, Vincent Salvatore and Eric Wallace and sister, Eileen Green.

A viewing will be held at the Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, Inc., 519 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA on Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Please come prepared to make remarks and share memories of Raymond beginning at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to 82nd Airborne Association, 224 W Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

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