David Sherman Wallace

David Sherman Wallace, 65, of New Haven, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at his residence following a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer and a 15 years with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in March of 1949 in Van Wert, the son of the late Sherman Hudson Wallace and the late Ethel Elizabeth (Dunifon) Wallace. As a child, David grew up on a farm in Haviland, which cultivated his adult interest in gardening. Later, his family moved to Van Wert, where he graduated from Van Wert High School in 1967.

In 1971, he graduated from Tri-State College with an associate’s degree in machine design technology, followed by employment in Van Wert at the Foy Johnston Paint Store as a manager, and Republic Buildings as a draftsman. In 1975, he married Nancy Ann Berryman, who survives in New Haven.

His love for the fine arts was encouraged at a young age by his mother, who took him to summer classes at Wassenberg Art Center in Van Wert, of which he was a member for most of his adult life. He exhibited, received awards for, and was commissioned to create artworks throughout Ohio and northeastern Indiana.

In 1985, he attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne working towards a bachelor of fine arts degree, which he earned in 1986 from Miami University in Oxford.

From 1987 to 1988, he taught high school art at Christian Haven Homes, a residential center for delinquent male youths, in Wheatfield, Indiana. In 1991, he received a master’s of fine arts education degree from Miami University, graduating summa cum laude. Following substitute teaching, he was employed from 1994 to 1995 as an elementary art teacher at University Baptist School in Jacksonville, Florida. After seven years teaching K-12 art at Fort Wayne Christian School, he retired in 2002 following his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. In 2006, he represented Indiana at the World’s Parkinson’s Congress in Washington, D.C., by donating two art pieces that were auctioned off for the benefit of Parkinson’s research.

Previous to his diagnosis, he regularly attended churches in the areas in which he lived, serving as a nursery worker, a children’s Sunday school teacher, a youth group leader and an usher.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Ian (Elizabeth) Wallace of Columbia City, Indiana, and Aaron David (Jennifer) Wallace of New Haven; a daughter, Sarah Ann Wallace of New Haven; two sisters, Phyllis (Walter) Koch of Elida and Marlene (John) McHenney of Waterville; a brother-in-law, Rex Moore of Decatur, Indiana; and five grandchildren, Addison, Alaina, Parker, Lucy and Maya.

A sister, Naomi Irene (Wallace) Moore, also preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2015, at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, Indiana, with Pastor Matt Moore officiating. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery.

Calling hours are from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, January 4, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: To the family.