Wallace Owens Enderle

West Point, 1948

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Scott Enderle on May 25, 2017:

My father wasn't what one would call a "Military" man. He served for close to 26 years in the Army but his love was in the science and technology of the military. He was a consummate problem solver. He didn't concern himself with the politics of the Army but he was steadfastly loyal to West Point and its graduates. He maintained lifelong friendships with many of his classmates and others in the service that came across his path. As a young man, I enjoyed meeting many of these friends of his. Kirby Lamar, Dean Dickenson (both from the class of 49, I believe), Jim Hooker, Al Pabst, Ken Olsen, Hank Stelling and many others from the class of 48. I played with their kids and my mother would spend time with their wives. Dad lost most of his eyesight over 12 years ago and his mind had been affected this last year and a half. If those events had not occurred, I am certain that he would have continued to communicate with those classmates that are still around. One of my fondest memories was when I took him back to the class reunion in 2008. I've never met a more kind and honest man than my father. I remember him capturing rattlesnakes and skunks in a live trap around the property in Elgin and taking them 6 or 8 miles down the road to let them loose again. He could fix anything. Electronics, plumbing, automobiles, trackers, computers and would design and build useful (if not pretty) items around the house and garage. He loved just one woman and they stayed together for 64 + years. I can count the enemies he made on one finger.

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