WALLACE TALLY JONES

Fort Worth, Texas – Wallace Tally Jones died Saturday afternoon, September 26, after enjoying one last rainstorm.  He was 80. 

Born in Wichita Falls, W.T. was the son of William Wesley and Lettie Leo Tally Jones. The family moved to Fort Worth in 1945 where he lived the rest of his life. W.T. graduated from R. L. Paschal High School in 1959 and the University of Texas, Arlington with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.  He worked at Bell Helicopter for 43 years before retiring in 2007.

On November 12, 1960, W.T. married the love of his life, Norma Jean Preston; they were married almost 62 years at the time of his death.   The couple were graced with two sons, Douglas Preston and Kenneth Wesley.  W.T. raised his sons to be, in his own words, “good, honest, strong and brave men.”  He always had wisdom to pass on to those who needed it, even if they did not think they needed it at the time.  The patriarch of the family, W.T. taught his sons and grandchildren many different life lessons.  Two of the most important were that it was important, in marriage, to see your partner as an equal, and that there is nothing more important in life than family. This served to instill a sense of pride in those who loved him.

Throughout his life W.T. was always a playful soul who enjoyed music, dancing, playing pranks and making his loved ones laugh.  He played guitar for many years and sang his favorite songs to those he loved.  W.T. and Norma took their four grandchildren on spring break trips helping to nurture their love of history and sense of adventure. Each summer the family enjoyed vacations on the Texas Gulf Coast.  We were blessed to be able to spend one last week in Galveston this year.  His great-grandchildren especially enjoyed all the funny faces he would make just to hear them laugh.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Lettie Jones, sisters, Marga Madsen and Joyce Blackmon; and brother-in-law, Alfred Madsen.

In addition to his wife, Norma, W.T. is survived by his sons, Doug and his wife, Laura, and Ken and his fiancée, Debbie Vasquez; grandchildren, Taylor Thornton and her husband, Chris, Erin Bryant and her husband, Daniel, Travis Jones and Tatum Jones; and great- grandchildren, Krystine Thornton and Austin Bryant.

A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held at 1 pm Wednesday, October 5, in the Watson Chapel at University Baptist Church, 2720 Wabash Avenue.