Wallace Wilhelm

Wallace ("Wally") Wilhelm, 90, of Odessa, passed away on February 4, 2015 in Odessa.
Visitation will be Friday, 6pm to 8pm at Sunset Funeral Home. Celebration of Life services will be held at 1pm on Saturday at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev Larry Hood officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Wally was born on August 4, 1924 to the late Ervin T and Zona Elsie (Wright) Wilhelm in Breckenridge, TX. Raised in Blackwell, TX, Wally graduated from High School and upon his graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy where he served in the South Pacific on the U.S.S. Magoffin during World War II. Upon his discharge, Wallace returned to Blackwell and continued his education at Hardin-Simmons and Baylor Medical School.

Wallace then began a career in sales. In 1962 Wally founded Thermal Scientific Inc. a successful industrial and laboratory supply company in Odessa. His business grew throughout Texas with additional offices now in Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Beaumont and Mansfield. Thermal Scientific now supports 40+ families and continues to grow. As Wally grew his business, he also raised his family and served as a fantastic role model to them and others, garnering respect and love from all that knew him. He enjoyed fishing, football, horse racing and casinos. He and his wife Elaine, whom he affectionately called "Precious", greatly enjoyed traveling with frequent trips to Alaska and Ruidoso. Wally and Elaine looked forward to annual trips to Lake Buchanan for family reunions and fishing every Memorial Day for 30 years.

Wally, a former Sunday school teacher, was thankful for his ABUNDANT GOD.

He is survived by his first wife Rozelle (Vest) Roye and their daughters, Susan and husband Henry Novak and Sherry and husband David Wishert, and present wife of 42 years, Elaine and children, Kimberly Gonzales, Tom Caldwell; grandchildren: Kyle Novak, Coby and Chad Wishert, Aleah Murphy, Josh, Jake, Jason, Katy, Clint, Chris Caldwell and 13 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his sisters, Helen Blair and Allene Wilhelm, brothers Tobe and Dan Wilhelm and son Bogan Caldwell.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Darlene Culp of Comfort Keepers and wonderful staff, Madison Medical Resort and their caring staff and to all family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research, www.michaeljfox.org or mail donations to the Foundation's mailing address: Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 or a charity of your choice.

Visitation

Sunset Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Friday, February 6, 2015
6:00-8:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Sunset Funeral Home Chapel
6801 East Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Saturday, February 7, 2015
1:00 P.M.

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762