Elizabeth Ann "Becky" (Ellis) Wallace

© Bartlesville Examiner
June 27 to July 27, 2012
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Elizabeth Ann "Becky" Wallace, 73, died peacefully after a brief illness on June 24, 2012, at her country home in Osage County, with friends around her.

A native of Bartlesville, Becky was born on January 28, 1939, the only child of Vernon and Thelma (Ellis) Wallace. Her father, a chemical engineer with Phillips Petroleum Company, and her mother, a committed civic volunteer, were models for Becky's life of community service. Her maternal grandfather had the Ellis Machine Shop on Short Street, relics of which are now part of the Oil Patch display at Woolaroc.

After graduating from College High School in 1957, Becky earned a B.A. in Secondary English Education in 1962 at the University of Tulsa. Becky served as a substitute teacher for many years not only in Bartlesville, but also in several Osage County schools. She was also the Volunteer Coordinator for several years on the OK Mozart festival staff.

From her earliest years, Becky was involved with the arts. During grade school, she studied expression (elocution) with Verian Chaney and her group that put on KWON's radio dramas. Her musical studies included piano with Addie Maud Murrah, violin with Ruth Green, and ballet with Suzanne Bettis and Charlotte Lyke. Later she was a student of Me-Me Neher, who sent her to summer seminars in Chicago with the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists. During her high school years, Becky taught tap and ballet classes for Mrs. Neher's School of Dance. She also participated in the local Ballet Club's community educational performances, sponsored by Betty Rausch Frey.

Becky Wallace dedicated her life to community service. Her interests covered diverse fields, from AAUW to the League of Women Voters, from doll collecting to county fair competitions, from politics to the Price Tower, from Women's Network to Woolaroc. She collected cats, hats, quilts, and china. She was involved with Kidsfest, ballet, book clubs, and for good measure a bridge group that has been meeting regularly for close to 50 years.

Becky was an active member and tireless supporter of Bartlesville Civic Ballet, the Ballet Guild, Rainbow Girls, Eastern Star, Extension Homemakers, Bartlesville Community Center, Bartlesville Pilot Club, Bartlesville Parliamentarians, the Bartlesville Women's Network, the Price Tower Arts Center, the Friends of Woolaroc, and the Tallgrass Doll Club - often serving as a founding member, president or board member for these organizations.

She frequently managed the volunteer ushers at the Bartlesville Community Center and served as house manager at more than a few OK Mozart festivals. She also was a docent at Woolaroc and the Bartlesville Area History Museum. As well as serving several terms on the boards at regional and state levels of the Oklahoma League of Women Voters, Becky was president of the Bartlesville LWV at the time of her death.

Becky was actively involved with various boards and committees of Oak Park United Methodist Church and she was instrumental in initiating the "Zingles" social group there.

She was recently the Region 3 (Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico) president of the United Federation of Doll Clubs and chaired committees at conventions all over the country, as well as establishing the Becky Wallace Scholarship Fund for Research of Modern and Collectible Dolls, an ongoing fund requiring at least a $20,000 donation.

Becky was well-known as a civic volunteer, often giving up to 60 hours a week. As she put it more than once, "Volunteering is a way of life for me."

In 1993 Becky received a well-deserved special award from Allied Arts and Humanities Council of Bartlesville for her "long and dedicated service to the arts."

Becky, an only child, was preceded in death by her father Vernon, in 1969, and her mother Thelma, in 1990. She is survived by a host of loving friends.

In lieu of flowers Becky requested memorial contributions be made to the donor's favorite arts organization or to OK Mozart, 415 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville, OK 74003.

Visitation will be held Tuesday 2-8 p.m. and Wednesday 9-8 p.m. at the Davis Family Funeral Home ( 918-534-3030 ), 113 South Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, OK 74029.

Funeral services for Becky Wallace will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2012, 10 a.m. at the Oak Park United Methodist Church, 601 Brentwood, Bartlesville, OK 74003. Rev. Linda Lusnia of the Oak Park United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be left at Davis Family Funeral Home.

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