Sidney Albert "Foots" Wallace

Sidney Albert “Foots” Wallace, 99, of Silsbee, died Friday, August 1, 2025, at Silsbee Oaks Health Care. He was born on Tuesday, July 27, 1926, in Starks, Louisiana, to Van Buren and Edna (McLeod) Wallace Jr.

Foots grew up in Silsbee and graduated from Silsbee High School.  He joined the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard the escort carrier U.S.S. Suwannee during the war. After his military service ended in 1946, he pursued the career path of becoming a teacher.   He achieved his Master’s Degree in Education from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.  Foots retired from Silsbee ISD as Assistant Superintendent, after 37 years of service in many capacities, from math and driver’s education instructor, to coach, to principal. He was a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Silsbee and was a proud World War II United States Navy Veteran. In 2024, he was privileged to take part in the Honor Flight to our nation’s capital.  He enjoyed golf, hunting, and traveling. He loved spending time with his friends and family on Crystal Beach and taught many of them one of his favorite past times – crab fishing. He was a man who loved life and loved people. Foots lived life to the fullest and was always ready to go on a new adventure or meet a new friend. He was intentional in every way – helping others, teaching life lessons, connecting people, and always with a positive attitude and warm smile. He enjoyed his Saturday morning pancake breakfast with his granddaughters, watching his grandsons play football, and playing checkers with his great grandchildren. He was a generous and loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be deeply missed.

Foots is survived by his wife, Harriet Nevill; daughter, Debbie McClelland, and her husband, Rick; step sons, Thomas Harold LaToof, and his wife, Angela, Mark Nevill and his wife Kay and Michael Nevill and his wife Julie; stepdaughter, Paula Wilder and her husband Rodney; many beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and brother, Linn Wallace.

Foots was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jo Ann Wallace; son, Randy Wallace; brothers, Lindsey, and Van B. Wallace III; and his sister, Mary Evelyn Reeves. 

A Recitation of The Rosary will be said at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 905 N 9th Street, in Silsbee. A Gathering of Family and Friends will follow from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Resthaven Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Sam Ed Harrell, Christian LaToof, Nicholas LaToof, Thomas LaToof III, Dr. Mark Nevill, and Michael Nevill. Honorary pallbearers include: Jack Barrington, Bobby Battle, Jay Battle, Kurt Benson, Richard Brooks, Danny Reneau, Bryant Sheppard, Fred Williams, and Charlie Woodard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Silsbee, TX or the Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group at www.setvsg.org, or P. O. Box 12352, Beaumont, TX 77726.

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