Van passed away peacefully on Jan 2, 2012 at the age of 92. She was born Feb 19, 1919 to Carl & Annie Carlson in Sandpoint, ID. Her early years were spent in Elk River, ID. They later moved to Spokane where she graduated from North Central High School in 1936. It was during these years that she began playing the piano which became a lifelong passion and one she readily shared with others. She graduated from Eastern Washington State College and served in the Navy during WWII. After the war, she returned to Spokane and married Bob Wallis in 1948. They ran a Snap-On Tool dealership during the 1960’s and 1970’s until Bob’s death in 1976. It was during these years that Van taught private piano lessons in their home in the Corbin Park neighborhood. After Bob’s death, Van got involved in numerous new activities including volunteer teaching at the Barton School, Zonta, Daughters of the Nile, Whitworth Auxiliary, the St Luke’s gift shop and various golf and bridge clubs. Knox Presbyterian Church was a focal point for many of her activities during her adult life. During those long winters in Elk River, Van learned to play card games of all types and developed a keen vocabulary allowing her to beat just about anybody at Scrabble and complete Sunday crossword puzzles in ink.
Van is survived by: Lloyd & Janis Wallis, Roy & Mary Wallis and Annette & Doug Edwards. She has 6 grandchildren: Katie, Kristen, Meg, & Heather Wallis and Zachary and Courtney Edwards.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Jan 7 at 11:00 at Knox Presbyterian Church.
The family would like to thank that staffs at Riverview Terrace, Guardian Angel and Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center for the great and loving care they provided to Van during the last several years of her life. Memorials are suggested to the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Foundation or the Union Gospel Mission. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, WA is caring for the family.
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