Ralph Eugene "Gene" Wallace, 84, of Oakbrook, formerly of Bement, Illinois, passed away on May 3, 2008 after a short illness.
Memorial services will be at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home in Monticello, Illinois, at 11:00am on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Interment will be in the Monticello Cemetery. Friends will be received at The Birches, 215 W. 55th Street, Clarendon Hills, IL, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
Gene was born on November 27, 1023, the son of Ralph and Lydia (Fisher) Wallace in Bement, Illinois. He married his wife Marjorie (Lofftus) of Roseville, Illinois, on June 22, 1946. She survives along with his four sons, Thomas of Bristol, Tennessee, Roger of West Chicago, Illinois, Phillip of Winona, Minnesota, and Lawrence of Pleasantville, New York. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren, Jenny (Burke), Amanda, Kyle, Shaun, Meghan, Dmitri, Maria and Sergei. Also surviving are 4 great-grandchildren, Samuel, Julia and Benjamin (Burke), plus Alexa (Upham). Gene was preceded indeath by his parents, his brother Harold Wallace, and two grandchildren, David and Scott Wallace.
Gene Wallace graduated from the University of Illinois in 1943 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then served in WWII as an officer with the Seabees in the U.S. Navy until the end of the war. He retired after 23 years in the Navy and Navy Reserves as a Commander. Gene was a mechanical engineer for International Harvester where he worked for 46 years. He served as Research Engineer Manager and later as Information Services Manager at International Harvester before retirement. He is most known for being one of a team of three engineers who designed the first gas turbine tractor, which is now on exhibit in the Smithsonian Institute. He was active in the Society of Automotive Engineers, and worked to bring engineering to the schools in the Wheels in Motion program. He was givven a lifetime achievement award by the Society of Automotive Engineers in 2005. After "retirement" he then took up his passion for farming on his farm in Mazon, Illinois for 12 years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America for 35 years, first as a Scout Master, and then as a Council Director. He also had a long time interest in genealogy.
Memorials can be made to the University of Illinois, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American Cancer Society or American Heart Association, or the donor's choice.
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