Lilburn “Wally” Wallace

Lilburn F. “Wally” Wallace died on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 of complications of cancer. Wally was born on November 10, 1921 at his familys home in Park City, Montana to Lilburn J. and Edith J. (Eklund) Wallace. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1938 as valedictorian of his class. He attended the University of Montana where he enrolled in music education and was a clarinet soloist with the University Band. In August of 1942, he was drafted into the Army. He worked as a secretary to many of the commanding officers, eventually being assigned to General Robert L. Eichenberger and he was awarded a Bronze Star. He was discharged from the Army in 1946 and began working as an assistant for Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., who was Vice President of General Motors and then President of United States Steel Corp. It was upon Mr. Stettinius retirement that Wally began his employment with him, residing in Orange, Virginia. During his travel to Liberia with Mr. Stettinius, Wally had an opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth of England, Eleanor Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and General MacArthur. He sailed home to the United States on the Queen Mary with Mr. Stettinius. Upon Mr. Stettinius death, Wally was asked to be the Personal Assistant to Mr. Juan Trippe, President and CEO of Pan American Airways in New York City. Mr. Trippe was married to Mr. Stettinius daughter. Initially the Pan American Airways office was located in the Chrysler Building and later they built the Pan Am Building. The Liberian project started by Mr. Stettinius was Wallys responsibility and he was elected Secretary of the Liberian Development Company and Vice President of The Liberia Company. As a result of that position, he made many trips to Liberia and he had collected many momentos from his travels. He accompanied Mr. Trippe on a flight to Seattle to tour the Boeing factory and flew in a prototype of the new Boeing 707, which Pan Am had just ordered 20. Charles Lindburgh was along and flew the plane for awhile. Mr. Lindburgh later sent Wally an autographed copy of his book “The Spirit of St. Louis”. In July of 1959, Wally bought a home in Stamford, Connecticut, commuting to New York City by train. In July of 1969, Wally retired from Pan Am and moved to Kerrville, TX where he lived until October of 2000 when he moved to Billings, Montana. Wally was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Helen Wallace Kastelitz and her husband, Frank Kastelitz. He is survived by nieces Zara (John) Logan of Cody, W;, Suzanne Redinger of Billings, MT; and nephews Randall (Kathleen) Kastelitz, of Billings, and Stephen Kastelitz of East Sound, WA. Also surviving are great nieces and nephews Kevin (Barbara) Frank, Kelly (Julie) Frank, Christopher (Gina) Frank, Rodney (Jalene) Kastelitz, Angela (Ross) Polen, Jill (Greg) French, Jennifer Redinger; great-great nephews Zachary Frank, Jared Frank, and Coy Polen. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 at 10.00 am, St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Billings, MT. A private burial service will follow at a later time. Memorials may be made to Yellowstone County Council on Aging, Parmly Billings Library, or Riverstone Hospice of Billings.