Donald Taber Wallace

Long-time Sandpoint resident Donald Taber Wallace passed away Aug. 17, 2016, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash., just short of his 83rd birthday.

He was born Aug. 22, 1933, in Utica, N.Y., to Dean and Helen Wallace; he was the fourth of five boys. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Don wanted nothing more than to serve his country. His father granted him permission to join at the age of 17. He left the Army to enroll at Brigham Young University and study broadcast journalism. Don was always a great storyteller, never at a loss for words and very smart, but he didn’t enjoy the classroom setting. He again joined the Air Force and accepted an assignment to the Pentagon.

It was during this time he began corresponding with Carlene Mikesell. During his very first visit to meet her in Sandpoint for Christmas 1965, Don proposed to her after eating what he called “the best meal of his life.” Don married Carlene on May 6, 1966, in Washington, D.C. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

Don served in both the Army and the Air Force during his 20-plus years career. He was a drill sergeant, ground-to-air communications operator, an MP, firefighter, and worked on many special projects including MARS. He loved to travel and enjoyed the many countries he was stationed in, including England, Germany, Taiwan, and Vietnam. He was also stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Myers, Va., West Point Academy, the Pentagon, Andrew’s AFB, Fort Shafter in Hawaii, and Mountain Home AFB. One of the highlights of his time while stationed in England was meeting Elizabeth Taylor, having his picture taken with her and getting a personal autograph. He liked meeting numerous celebrities throughout his life and enjoyed filling up his autograph books.

After his military retirement in October 1972, Don trained for broadcasting at the KTVB studios in Boise before moving to Provo to operate the cameras at the BYU television studio. In 1973, Don and his family moved back to Sandpoint to take over ownership of Ed’s Motel and Grocery on Dover Highway. Don began a long career working as a dispatcher for the Sandpoint Police Department. He was a member of the local VFW and VVA, a member of the ARRL and active in HAM radio (call signs WH6CWC and K2ANM). He was well known in the community as “Sarge” and “Mr. Smiley,” nicknames he gained as a substitute teacher for over 15 years at the local schools. He taught many children how to tie their shoes on the playgrounds of Washington and Farmin elementary schools.

Don was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held many callings and served faithfully as a full-time missionary with his wife in the Arizona Tempe mission and also as workers in the Seattle, Wash., temple. He always displayed his deep love of God, family and country, and instilled that importance in his children and grandchildren. Don is survived by his wife, Carlene; three daughters and nine grandchildren, Susan Wallace Vandament of Bellevue, Wash., (Christian and Collin Vandament); Connie (Jared) Abercrombie of San Antonio, Texas (Colter, currently serving a mission in Tokyo, Japan; and Kathryn and Lewis Abercrombie) and Linda Wallace of Meridian, Idaho, (Elaine, Emily, Daniel and Elizabeth Sterling). He is also survived by all four of his brothers, Richard “Doc” (New Mexico), Robert “Bob” (New York), Tom (North Carolina), and William “Bill” (Australia) as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, former sons-in-law (Mike Vandament and Ben Sterling), friends and HAM radio buddies around the world.

Don’s life and service to his faith, family and country will be commemorated at a graveside service at Pack River Cemetery with full military honors on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. A celebration of life will be held at the VFW Hall on Sept. 30 from 4-6:30 p.m. Please join us there as we indulge in Don’s favorite chocolate desserts and share our memories of him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name, to the local VFW Post 2453.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook, for Don, at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Final arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.