Thelma Matilda Wallace

With her sons at her bedside, Thelma Matilda Wallace died Friday afternoon, December 15, 2017, at the family ranch in east Snowflake following a lengthy illness.  She was 91 years old.  Thelma was born on a Thursday, July 22, 1926, in Forsyth, Taney County, Missouri to her parents, the late Jacob and Myrtle (Roat) Ingenthron. A few years after her high school graduation, Thelma married her forever sweetheart, Jason Daniel Wallace, on the Harrison County Courthouse steps, in Arkansas, literally, just as the Justice of Peace was heading out of town for a fishing trip! Immediately after they wed, the honeymooners moved to Portland, Oregon, a place they called home for about 5 years.  Then, in 1952, their growing family moved to San Diego, California, where Jason began working as a Union Carpenter.  They remained in San Diego for the next 50+ years while Jason worked hard making a comfortable living for his beautiful bride.  After he passed away, Thelma moved to Snowflake, Arizona to be near her 3 sons.  Thelma loved her golden years living at their ranch.  Throughout her life, Thelma was an excellent homemaker to her family.  Also, as family members (both immediate and distant) and close friends were married, Thelma would make beautiful wedding dresses and wedding cakes for the ceremonies.  Literally, the number of gowns and cakes she made, are countless.  She was a crafty woman and loved sewing and quilting.  She even possessed an incredible collection of buttons.  She was a member of the San Diego Button Club for many years, before moving to Arizona in 2005. Thelma, along with her husband, taught her children the value of hard work.  Too, they instilled within each one of them the importance of integrity and that, above all else, being men and women, true to their word, would bless each one of them for good throughout their own lives.  Her family learned many life lessons because of her example. Most recently, during her final years with her Alzheimer's disease, her family learned that patience truly is a virtue.  Thelma was a woman of honor and her children and grandchildren will greatly miss her. Thelma is survived by her 4 children:  Gwen (Lloyd) Gill of Stapleton, Nebraska, David L. (Virginia) Wallace of Snowflake, Arizona, Timothy T. Wallace of Snowflake, Arizona, Marcus J. Wallace of Snowflake, Arizona; 11 grandchildren and is also survived by her 21 great-grandchildren.  Along with her parents and husband, Thelma was preceded in death by all of her siblings:  Joseph Ingenthron, Orrin Ingenthron, Elmo Ingenthron, Lloyd Ingenthron, Elsie Palmer and Ruth Jeffries.  A special family graveside service will be held at a later date, when her earthly remains will be laid to rest with her husband, Jason, at the El Camino Memorial Gardens in San Diego, California.Arrangements are being cared for by Owens Livingston Mortuary - Heritage Chapel of Snowflake, Arizona.