Merle Wallace

February 25, 1930 - May 7, 2022

Merle Wallace was a warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away on May 7, 2022 at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Beatrice Guynn; sisters, Ernestine and Sybil, brother, Arnold; and her beloved husband of 56 years, Norman. She is survived by her cherished family, who will forever honor her legacy: daughter, Debra, and son, Kenneth; son-in-law, Dennis Gilkey and daughter-in-law Katy Wallace; grandchildren, Jason Gilkey, Melissa Gilkey McAlpine, Lena Wallace, and Drew Wallace; and great grandchild, Jarrett Gilkey. Merle was born on February 25, 1930 and grew up on her family’s farm in Fort White, Florida where she learned firsthand the values of hard work, determination, and perseverance. It was also there in Fort White where Merle met the love of her life, Norman Wallace while attending grade school. They married in 1950, shortly after Norman began working for International Harvester. Merle raised their children, while supporting Norman’s career while International moved their family from Jacksonville to Savannah, from Orlando to Miami, and from St. Petersburg back to Miami. In 1972, they opened their own dealership in Fort Myers, Wallace International Trucks, where Merle worked in accounting for 34 years alongside her husband. After Norman passed away from a sudden illness in 2006–just a few months after she had retired—Merle returned to Wallace International and successfully retained the business as the dealer principal, offering stability to their family of over 50 employees. At 80, she reluctantly retired a second time and spent her remaining years under the care and companionship of family and many friends. Merle was an incredible home cook, specializing in the kind of southern comfort food that would make any and every one go back for 2nd, or 3rd helpings—something she always encouraged. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and could laugh at just about anything, including herself. She inspired her family to be their best and regularly reminded them of how much they meant to her, including her most common refrain, “I love you from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes.” A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 4th at 1PM at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Ft. Myers, 4141 Deleon St., Ft. Myers, FL 33901. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church or Hope Hospice at 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 or online at: https://hopehospice.org/donate/