Wallace H. Hanlon
September 05, 1930 - May 26, 2012
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Wallace H. Hanlon
September 05, 1930 - May 26, 2012
Obituary
Wallace Homer Hanlon
Sept 5, 1930 May 26, 2012
Born: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Parents: Homer and Ada (Harper) Hanlon
Wally grew up in Batavia, Illinois where his parents ran a small business. He was six years old when brother Paul was born and age 8 when Robert (Bob) Hanlon arrived.
In high school, he was a football running back, track sprinter, and a member of the basketball team.
Wally attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity, and met his future wife, Sue. He graduated in 1952 in time to fulfill his military ROTC obligation. He spent one year at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and one year in Korea, breaking code for American military intelligence.
He came back in September 1954 to ask Sue to marry him. Their wedding was January 1955. Shortly after they returned to the University of Illinois for Wally’s degree in aeronautical engineering.
In 1957, the young couple went to San Diego for Wally’s position with Convair Division of General Dynamics. Two years later with their first child, Kevin, in tow, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a position with ITT. After seven years, the young family now with 3 children (adding Mitch and only daughter Tracy) headed back to California with McDonnell Douglas in Huntington Beach. In December 1969, their youngest son, Chip, was born.
At Douglas, Wally worked on MOL (Manned Orbiting Laboratory) and later came the SkyLab project where he worked closely with many of our astronauts. He designed the film vault that went up with SkyLab. People remember when it dropped back down to earth several years later.
Wally had always liked business, and for 12 years owned Spring Crest Custom Drapery franchises in Orange County. After that he went back to Douglas for a few years.
He liked being busy and continued to work. He was currently employed part time as a sales executive with Perfectex in Huntington Beach.
Wally was a devoted husband of 57 years to Sue. He was loving father to Kevin, Mitch, Tracy and Chip. He adored spending time with his 7 grandchildren, Kirby, Courtney,
Josh, Julia, Jacob, Levi, and Phoebe. He was a man of active faith and was a member of First Christian Church Huntington Beach for over 40 years
24 responses to Wallace H. Hanlon
Wendy and Lisa Westerveld says:
May 31, 2012
We appreciated and enjoyed the time we spent meeting Wally. His grace, intelligence, warmth and love for his family will be remembered always. Our love and sympathy to his family. We hope you are comforted by the many loving memories of your husband, father and grandfather.
connie corder says:
June 1, 2012
I will truly miss Wally every morning at work, he was the greatest teacher of alls things and made sure I was informed. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Wally. I will miss his smile and his kindness, God Bless the family and God Bless Wally,
Your friend of 15 years, Connie Corder
Patti Barnes says:
June 1, 2012
I will miss Wally’s smile and friendly greeting each day at work…he was a very unique person. My deepest sympathy for his family and friends, as well as thoughts and prayers that all will find comfort in cherished memories of Wally and in the light and love of the Lord…Patti Barnes
Don O'Neal says:
June 2, 2012
Sue and family, you have our deepest sympathy. We will always remember Wally as a gentleman, hard working family man, best friend, man who lived by the values he promoted, and a person who always considered the other person’s feelings. He was an extraordinary person and your family will be in our prayers.
Don and Jean O’Neal
Tracy Sue Hanlon Cabell says:
June 2, 2012
1 file added to the tribute wall