Wallace Alexander Seymour's Obituary
Wallace Alexander Seymour
Nov. 22, 1927 - Nov. 13, 2008
Surrounded by family, Wally passed away on November 13, 2008. As was his nature he displayed courage and determination to the very end. Born in Mineral, Washington to Henry and Lola Seymour, he graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Pugh. They had five children. Wally was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary, and their oldest son Dan. He is survived by his sister Laurel Nichols of Seaside, Oregon, daughter Christine Seymour, sons Ron and his wife Chelly, Tom and his wife Carolyn, and Larry and his wife Jill, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by Mary's sister, Betty Gjurash. A man of honor and integrity, he served in the Army from March 9, 1946 to April 7, 1947. He joined the Tacoma Police Department in 1949 and retired as a Captain on August 5, 1977. Over those years, officers who worked with him and their families became part of an extended family that enjoyed professional, recreational, and family activities together. In his retirement he became a leader in Washington State AARP, where he made many new friends with whom he stayed in contact. Outside of his police work he was a loving father, husband, coach, and friend to all he met. A baseball coach from the time his oldest son Dan could hold a bat, he had the ability to make every player feel important and successful. As adults he was the foundation of a family team that played together for 10 years before he decided to play with kids his own age and joined a senior league that he enjoyed until age 71. Wally was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting and camping (no matter what the weather). He was a musician and an artist. Leader of a family 'band' we all spent many hours around the piano playing the various instruments we had learned. He took up oil painting and specialized in painting the trains that originally brought logs out of Mineral where he grew up and later became historical scenic trains for visitors to experience a taste of the past. Wally spent his last days at Heartwood Extended Health Center, and the family would like to express their sincere thanks to the wonderful care they provided as well as to Franciscan Hospice. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at St. John of the Woods Catholic Church, 9903 24th Ave. E., Tacoma, WA 98445. Rosary at 10:30am, Funeral Mass 11:00am. A luncheon immediately follows the mass at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
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