Jean Wallace, retired New Middletown postmaster, dies

Roberta Jean Wallace, retired postmaster in New Middletown, died Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at Hospice Care Center in Louisville.
For more than 25 years, Wallace watched many local children come in to collect mail, and they usually received a sucker for their efforts, said her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Wallace.
Wallace began working at the New Middletown Post Office on Jan. 14, 1978, and retired March 1, 2003, as its postmaster.
She began her career with the post office as a part-time ‘flexible clerk’ and was appointed postmaster two years later. Her goal when she began working was to have a little extra money to purchase matching curtains and a matching bedspread ‘ which she did, said Carolyn.
She and retired postmaster Shirley Mason and several other postmasters traveled all over the state and nation to attend postal service conventions. She preferred to drive, not fly.
‘She was an excellent driver with awesome skills ‘ she once explained to the same police officer (twice within a week) that she was not speeding, that something must be wrong with the speedometer on her Mercury. He graciously explained how to verify her speed by the mile markers along the highway and wished her a nice day,’ said her husband, James, an over-the-road truck driver.
James recalled how his wife took care of business. Once he was on the road and called his wife at home. She told him the lawn mower that he had just repaired was not working properly. This was unacceptable. He told her if she wasn’t satisfied to buy a new one.
That weekend when he arrived home, he was surprised to find a brand new John Deere lawn tractor in the garage. He said the salesman at the local John Deere store even called him to confirm the sale.
In June 2002, Jean was diagnosed with colon cancer and required surgery.
Her faith in God held her strong during a two-year battle with colon and breast cancer, said Carolyn. She desperately wanted to be well, but, in the end, she was not scared, she said.
Wallace, 71, was a member of New Middletown United Methodist Church.
Survivors include James, her husband of 42 years; two sons, Tom Wallace of New Salisbury and David W. Wallace of New Middletown; her mother, Lorena Haycraft of Louisville; a sister, Shirley Goodwin of Brandenburg, and a grandchild.
The funeral was Friday at New Middletown United Methodist Church with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. Ted Chalk officiated. Gehlbach and Royse Funeral Home in Corydon handled the arrangements.
Pallbearers were Paul Shinn, Harold Wallace, George Houtchens Jr., William Bottomley, Travis Brown, Roger Frederick, Tyler Bottomley, Scott Derbacher and Jerry Wallace Jr.