Barbara Southworth Wallace

Barbara Jean Wallace, loving wife, mother, and grandmother went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, December 17, 2022. A native Houstonian, Barbara was born on January 25, 1940, to the late Lillian Mae and Luther Franklin Southworth. Barbara grew up in Garden Oaks and attended Reagan (Heights) High School, where she excelled in school and served as an officer in the Reagan Redcoats Drill Team. Upon graduation, Barbara went to Sam Houston State University, where she enjoyed being an Alpha Chi Omega. She graduated with degrees in business and education and worked for several years as a secretary for Humble Oil. In the fall of 1964, Barbara met Dick Wallace, a tax accountant at Arthur Andersen. They married on April 17, 1965 and would have married sooner had it not been for the April 15 tax deadline – despite the fact that neither was known for making quick decisions. They were married for over fifty-seven years and provided a beautiful example of marriage and parenting for their family and all who knew them. In 1967, Barbara and Dick moved into their lifelong home in Walnut Bend, and on September 11 of that year welcomed their daughter Julie. Their son Michael followed almost exactly three years later. Barbara loved being a stay-at-home mom and was very involved in her children’s schools and other activities. She was a Girl Scout leader and never missed any of Michael’s football, baseball or basketball games, or Julie’s choir concerts or piano recitals. She enjoyed numerous sewing activities including needlepoint, cross-stitch and quilting, and was known for her sequined Christmas stockings and quilts, which have become treasured family heirlooms. She patiently and lovingly cared for her mother and mother-in-law in their later years, as well as the family dogs Pogo and Brandy. Her favorite role was being Nana to five grandchildren – Brittany, Maddie, Matt, Trey and Drew. In later years they spent many relaxing weekends at their condo in Walden on Lake Conroe. They enjoyed seeing how many of their kids’ friends they could pack into that one-bedroom condo! Many wonderful family memories were made waterskiing, tubing and watching Fourth of July fireworks. Barbara was a wonderful hostess, making everyone feel welcome and ensuring no one was hungry! In 1998 they became involved in square dancing and round dancing with the Hey Lollies Square Dancing Club. There they made wonderful friends - spending time together dancing, traveling and having dinner at Los Tios on Friday nights. Barbara also treasured the friendships of her needlepoint and ladies’ line dancing exercise groups. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, Lillian and Luther Southworth, and brother Larry Southworth. She is survived by her husband Dick, daughter Julie and husband Mike Bryant of Houston, TX, granddaughters Brittany Bryant of Austin, TX, Maddie Mechelsen and husband Jack of Charleston, SC, and grandson Trey Bryant of Houston, TX; son Michael and wife Rachel Wallace of Dallas, TX, and grandsons Matt and Drew Wallace of Dallas, TX. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, from 5:30- 8-00 pm at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. The funeral and reception will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. It will also be live-streamed at www.mdumc.org/barbarawallace. The burial will take place the following week in Prairie Hill, Texas. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Memorial Drive United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

Barbara Southworth Wallace

January 25, 1940 - December 17, 2022