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Sarah Frances Huddle Wallace
Wife of Pastor Ralph Wallace
Sarah Frances Huddle Wallace, 77, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at Laurel Crest Retirement Center in West Columbia, South Carolina.
She was born on September 20, 1937 in Pleasant Valley-Rockingham, VA to The Rev. KY and Sarah Frances Huddle. She was baptized by her grandfather, The Rev. Marion D Huddle, in the family church, Rosenbaum's Chapel Evangelical Lutheran Church, on January 30, 1938 and grew up in various locations in North Carolina, skipping a grade to graduate from Rockwell High in 1954 and magna cum laude from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1958.
Sarah married her college sweetheart, Ralph Justin Wallace on June 7, 1958. Mrs. Wallace began her lifelong career in education as a Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministry at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in West Columbia, while her husband attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. She taught elementary and junior high school and served as an assistant principal and principal in Lexington 2 and Richland 2 in South Carolina, as well as in North Carolina and in Tennessee. Sarah completed her Master's Degree in Elementary Education at the University of South Carolina. In her 32 years as an educator, she received numerous awards and recognitions at the local, state and national levels in every capacity and locale in which she served, beginning by being named Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America two years after having returned to the classroom (when her children reached school age) to having the innovative programs she formulated and facilitated in her schools featured, fostered and fully funded repeatedly by such groups as the South Carolina Department of Education and Leadership Knoxville. Her love of all of God's children and commitment to their learning was matched by her dedication to nurturing and supporting others engaged in the same missions.
In addition to being an amazing wife and mother who radiated love in myriad ways, Sarah served in many vibrant roles in her church communities including council president, choir and circle member, and adult Sunday School Teacher. Sarah was greatly respected for her organizational skills as well as admired for her gracious hospitality and warmth. Her skills as a needlewoman were evident in her creation of her own wedding gown, her husband's vestments, her children's clothes and, in retirement, quilting with her friends.
Sarah is survived by her husband, The Rev. Dr. Ralph J. Wallace; daughter, Dr. Leslie Skinner (Ed); son, Chris Wallace (Heidi); grandchildren, The Rev. Jessica Skinner Darty (The Rev. Jason), Justin Paul Skinner, Keller Bryce Wallace and Abigail Grace Wallace and nieces and nephews. Her surviving siblings include the Rev. David K. Huddle (Pat) and Stephen M. Huddle (Kris) and her brother-in-law, the Rev. Gerald P. Wallace (Nancy). She was predeceased by her brother S. Mark Huddle.
Sarah Huddle Wallace's life will be celebrated on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 11 AM at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 400 Harbison Boulevard, Columbia, SC. Memorial donations in Sarah's name may be made to Lutheridge/ Lutherock ministries, where the Wallaces were counselors before and during their marriage, and the Breast Cancer Society or Parkinson's Plus. Cards may be sent to: The Rev. Dr. Ralph Wallace, 100 Joseph Walker Dr. Apt. 325, West Columbia, SC 29169
The family wishes to express deep appreciation to Sarah's caregivers at Laurel Crest, as well as all of those supporting her and her family with love and prayer.
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