Ervin Wallace

ERVIN RAY WALLACE, affectionately known as “Ray” by his family and friends, was born on May 1, 1937 in Fort Worth, Texas, to loving parents, Quinten D. Wallace and Zenobia Swindle Wallace.  Ray, accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age with the spiritual of his loving grandmother, Rossi Edward. They attended the Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop Charles Mason and Progressive Church of God in Christ under Pastor D.C. Littlefield.  He completed his formal education in both Fort Worth and Los Angeles, California. He attended James E. Quinn Elementary and G. W.  Carver Jr. High School in Fort Worth, Thomas Starr King High School in Hollywood, California, and finally, I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 1954, Ray enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served his country with pride and honor during the Korean War. He received his Honorable Discharge in 1957.

In 1955, Ray met the lovely Billie Mae Wesley.  In 1956, they were united in marriage in Yuma, Arizona and made San Diego, California their permanent resident. Their union was blessed with three beautiful children: Charlotte “Cookie”, Diana and Melvin.  Ray & Billie were also loving foster parents. On July 11, 2008, Ray’s bride of fifty-three years was called home to be with the Lord.

After completing his stint in the Navy, Ray began working for the Conair Company in Chula Vista.  In 1958, he began his employment with the City of San Diego, where he worked in several departments including the Sanitation Department as a Sanitation Crewman, Assistant Manager at Mt. Hope Cemetery; Noise Abatement Investigator and City Water Department as the first Field Representative and Code Compliance Officer. He was respectfully known as the “Water Cop”.   He retired in 2000 after forty-two years of exemplary service. 

After retirement from the City of San Diego, Ray worked for the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers as a Customer Service Representative.

In 1959, Ray and Billie joined Mt Zion Baptist Church where he was baptized under the spiritual guidance of the late Pastor C. Johnson.  In 1965, the Wallace family moved their membership to Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Marvin C. Hines and continued under the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Foxworth.  Ray was ordained as a Deacon and also served as secretary for the Deacon Board. He was a member of the Men’s Male Choir, the Gospel Choir and assisted with Vacation Bible School. He worked wherever he was needed. Ray remained a faithful member until his passing.

Ray’s community service includes generous donations to the House of David Church of God in Christ Food Program, served on the Alta Vista Community Council, Neighborhood Watch Association, Medical Board of Directors, a member of C.O.R.E, and thirty years with the Pop Warner Football of South Bay, where he also served as a coach.

Ray was a Godly man, and although not a perfect servant, he was one who feared the Lord and revered the Word of God. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Billie Mae; both of his parents; his grandparents; his brother, Howard Rivers; mother and father in-law and beloved sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Early Sunday Morning, on May 5, 2019, Deacon Ervin Ray Wallace was called from earthly labor to eternal rest. He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Charlotte Sims (Herbert Jr.) and Diana Wallace Walton; one son, Melvin Ray Wallace; two sisters, Cora Lewis (William) and Missy Wallace; two brothers, Robert Menefee (Deborah) and Andre Wallace (Paula); six grandchildren: Lynnell Brice (Regina),  Nicolette Scruggs (Sebastian), Brittani Sims, Cedric Walton, Herbert Sims III and Terrell Walton; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends, including the Pilgrim Progressive Church Family.

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