Melba H. Wallace Obituary (1932 - 2023)

Orono- Melba Elaine Wallace, 91, of Orono, ME, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2023. She was born on June 18, 1932 in Sanford, ME to Clarissa and John Harrison. She spent her early life in Southern Maine, aside from a short period where she lived with family in California during the Great Depression. She graduated from Colby Sawyer College and Westbrook Teachers College and through the years taught middle school English at Westbrook JH and the Hebrew Academy of Bangor, and in Old Town elementary schools. She met her husband, Bob, while taking summer classes at the University of Maine; they married in 1956. Together they volunteered for ski patrol in the winters and enjoyed their camp on Whitney Pond in the summers. When their children came along, they became devoted parents and were especially supportive of all their athletic activities. Many will remember seeing Melba cheering her grandchildren on as well. She played tennis, golf and racquetball and bowled in a league for years. This love of sports carried over to TV as she followed the Celtics, Red Sox and professional tennis obsessively. Most nights she read a book or knitted while watching. Additionally, she taught swimming for years at summer camps and Y’s all over the state. Melba was well known for dressing with style right up to the end, as well as keeping her hair red. She loved clothes, jewelry and was very proud of her beautiful home. Melba was always busy with clubs and activities as a member of AAUW, the League of Women Voters,Thursday Club, NRTA, church, and playing bridge. She was an usher at the Collins Center for the Arts well into her 80's. Melba enjoyed traveling in her retirement, going to Mexico and Europe several times as well as visiting most of the US and Canada. She particularly enjoyed the educational Elder Hostel programs and Senior College in Bangor. Melba is survived by her son, David Wallace and his wife Michelle of Colorado Springs, CO; her daughter, Valerie Wallace and her husband Tim Murphy of Orono; her grandchildren, Samuel Wallace, his wife Kaylee and their children Elizabeth, Katherine, William, and Theodore of Indian Mound, TN. Veronica Wallace-Ewing and her husband Jordan Charpentier of Orono, Ruby Wallace-Ewing and her husband Alex Stokowski of Biddeford, Charles Wallace, his wife Samantha and their children Samson and Angus of Monterrey, CA, Daphne Murphy of Portsmouth, NH, Wesley Wallace of Grand Fork, ND and Calvin Murphy of Orono. Melba was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Wallace of Orono and her newborn son, Robert S. Wallace, her parents, and her brothers, Winston and Jack Harrison. A memorial service to celebrate Melba's life will be held on November 10th at the Universal Fellowship Church in Orono at 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Joseph’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1638, Bangor,ME 04402, in her name, is gratefully appreciated. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BirminghamFuneralHome.com for the Wallace family.