Wallace Earley

Wallace Earley, 90, of Lake Lure, NC died on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the Charles George V.A. Medical Center following a brief illness. Born in Rutherfordton, NC on September 30, 1921, he was the son of the late Marion Walter Earley and Maude Jane Dalton Earley. Wallace was a member of Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and Sunday School superintendent.He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He served with the First Armored Division in six major battle campaigns in North Africa and Italy, during which he earned the Purple Heart.Wallace was the charter Fire Chief of Bill’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He served 7 years as chief and 17 years with the department. Mr. Earley was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. During his work career he was a farmer and ran a local store.Wallace is survived by his wife, Louise Huntley Earley of the home; sons, Forrest Earley and wife, Becky, of Morganton, Steve McAbee and wife, Sandra, of Fairview, NC, and Jerry McAbee and wife, Pam, of Whittier, NC; a daughter, Sandra Blanks and husband, Ray, of Raleigh, NC; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Max Earley of Lowell, NC; and number of nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, Wallace was preceded in death by his first wife, Gertrude Wilson Earley; brothers, Clarence, Ted, and Tommy Earley; sisters, Donnie Mae Goode and Vivian Earley; a step-son, Brian McAbee; and grandchildren, Jessica Ruth Earley, Natalie McAbee, and Andrew McAbee.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2012 at Bill’s Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Claude McIntosh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the N.C. National Guard. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Bill’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 1118 Bills Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746 or to Bill’s Creek Baptist Church, 1475 Bills Creek Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746. Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.