William Wallace Connally

William Wallace "Wally" Connally was born in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 1921. He graduated from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles in 1939, attended Los Angeles City College and the University of Southern California. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army and received three battle stars in the Battle of the Bulge, was decorated with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantry Badge. He later received the French Decoration for the Liberation of France from the President of France.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and Shrine, and a life member of Military Officers of America and Disabled American Veterans, Fort Sherman Chapter, Coeur d'Alene.

After retiring from the Army as a Major, he worked for the County of Los Angeles for 25 years, the first eight years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. and the remaining years with the Los Angeles Superior Court. After his second retirement he worked as a volunteer in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. Detective Division for 3 ½ years.

In 1991, he and his wife, Hope, moved to Coeur d'Alene where he continued his volunteer work by working with the investigative Division of the Coeur d'Alene Police Dept. for 19 years.

He was preceded in death by a stepson, Jeff Henry, in 2001. He leaves his wife of 56 years, Hope, his daughter, Lorayne Pond of Antibes, France from a former marriage, his stepdaughters, Carole Tabakman (David) of Coeur d'Alene and Claudia Hurt (Randy) of St. Maries, along with 6 grand children and 8 great-grandchildren.

The Neptune society is handling the funeral arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the Shriners Hospital of Spokane or Hospice House of No. Idaho.

A celebration of Wally’s life will be held at Leisure Park clubhouse on Sunday, June 22nd at 3:00pm.