Dwain E. Wallace

Dwain Erskine Wallace, 83, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Dwain was born February 27, 1938, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was the son of Leora Lee Caldwell and Leland Erskine Wallace. He went to Hazel Grove Elementary School and graduated from Washington Rural High School in 1956.  He furthered his education by obtaining a bachelors degree of Science from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia (Emporia State University). He taught 5 years at Tomahawk Elementary School in District 110 from 1959 to 1964. He received his Masters Degree from Kansas University in 1965 while teaching his first year overseas. He taught the American dependent children for nine years teaching in Okinawa, Germany, the Netherlands, and England. He traveled extensively during that time. He came home to Overland Park and began teaching at Merriam Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District #512 and obtained his Specialists Degree and his Administrative Certificate. He taught 37 years creating lasting friendships and educating thousands of students.

The time he spent teaching overseas sparked a love of traveling - a world traveler he became. He went to every continent except Antarctica. He traveled with his brother, Dean; his sister, Eileen and her husband, Harold David Benskin and a life-long friend, Ron Pedigo. Treasured memories were made. One can live vicariously on his trips by looking through the intricate scrapbooks of his travels.

Dwain was a devout Christian. He was baptized at an early age in Bethel Baptist Church in Bethel, KS (now Kansas City, KS) by Brother Knapton and his mother sang in the choir. As an adult, he joined the Spirit of Hope Metropolitan Community Church where he read scriptures in his beautiful, deep voice and sang in the choir.

Dwain loved his family and his family loved and adored him. He loved his friends, as well. He will be so deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

Dwain had many interests in his life.  His faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, his beloved family and dear friends were of the utmost importance to him.  He was an accomplished pianist, inspired by his mother. He had a very rewarding career in educating children, inspired by his father.  Traveling was such fun for him enjoying and learning about other areas of the United States and the cultures and the people around the world. One can tell by browsing through the many albums he created of his travels.  He was an avid reader.  The Bible and the suspense thrillers by Dean Koontz were among his favorites.  If there were a game show on T.V., he probably was watching it or taping it to watch later.  He loved watching Jeopardy—he knew many of the answers!  He enjoyed the challenge of doing a crossword puzzle every day.  He did puzzles on his computer, as well.  Dwain was an amazingly bright, sweet and kind brother, uncle, cousin and friend.  He is missed and loved.  He will be so deeply missed by everyone who knew him:  his sincerity, his caring, his resonating voice, his fun smile, his dry wit and infectious laugh.

Dwain was preceded in death by his parents, Leora Lee and Leland Wallace, stepmother, Marguerite Wallace and his niece, Kara Lee Anderson. He is survived by his brother, Dean Wallace of Kansas City, MO;  sister, Eileen Benskin, and her husband, Harold David, of Overland Park, KS; niece, Brittney Hooper, and her husband, Chuck, and their children, Owen and Lauren of Shawnee, KS; nephew, Devin "Bill" Wallace, of Parkville, MO; nephew, Tyson Wallace, and his wife, Katie, and their two daughters, Charlotte and Remy of Highlands Ranch, CO; step-niece, Jenni Starrine, and her husband, Chris, Jenni's daughter, Chloe, of Libertyville, IL, and Chris' son, Kayleb, of Katy, TX; and many dear cousins and friends.

The family will receive guests for visitation from 11:00 to 12:00 noon at Johnson County Funeral Chapel at 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66210, with the service celebrating Dwain's life following at 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 16, 2021. A graveside service will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 704 N. 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112.

The family suggest honoring Dwain's memory by donating to American Heart Association .

THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVED STREAMED.  PLEASE JOIN THE FAMILY AT 12:00 PM, ON 10/16 BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW