This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marcenath158 Surnames: Wallace, Crawford, Janavaris Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newmexico.counties.donaana/5310/mb.ashx Message Board Post: W.J. 'Dub' Wallace, 86, died Monday, March 28, at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM. He was named W.J. in tribute to the two women who helped deliver him on the family farm in Crawford, Texas. W and J were their initials. Mr. Wallace was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II, where he served on the hospital ship USS Bountiful and crossed the equator 32 times. He piloted a small boat that transported the wounded from shore to ship. In 2009, he was recognized with a certificate and medal of appreciation by the Mayor and Las Cruces City Council for his service to the United States. In September of 1946, while a student at McMurry College in Abilene, Texas, he met Elizabeth Crawford. They married on Valentine's Day, 1947, and remained happily married until his death. They moved to New Mexico in 1948, where he enrolled at New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) and earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural science. They moved to Deming in 1953, where he first worked f! or Western Cotton Oil and then for Western Farm Bureau. In December of 1962, they moved back to Las Cruces, where he managed the Crop Hail Department of Western Farm Bureau, from which he retired in 1987. He was a respected crop-damage adjuster, and he traveled extensively throughout New Mexico, Arizona and Texas to assist his clients in the aftermath of hail storms. He served on the steering committee of the First Methodist Church while in Deming, where he also taught Sunday School, and spent many years as an active member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Las Cruces. He served locally both as a scout leader and a hospital volunteer, and was generous with his colorful auctioneering talents, which he - and we - loved. He and Elizabeth had three sons. David Bruce Wallace was born in 1952; Jonathan Carter Wallace was born in 1959; and James Crawford Wallace was born in 1961. He also had a beloved "second son", Jess Williams, who was a graceful companion and selfless caregiver in Dub's later years. In addition to his widow and children, he is mourned by a brother, Frank and his wife Lois; a sister, Lucille and her husband Cecil; his daughters-in-law, Alice (Jonathan), Cherie (James) and Jurian (David); his sisters-in-law, Judy Bartay and Anita Wallace; his brothers-in law, Rev. Jim Crawford (and wife Sue) and Nace Crawford, Jr. (and wife Joy); and a grandson, Geoffrey Janavaris; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends. His brothers Joseph, James, and sister Alberta passed before him. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Las Cruces. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery west of Las Cruces. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home corner of Solano and Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, NM 526-2419. To sign the local online guest book to www.GetzCares.com Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on March 30, 2011 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.