Larry was born January 27, 1943 in Boyd County, Kentucky to Samuel Russell and Hazel (Hesbulin) Wallace. He attended Highlands High School in Fort Thomas and participated in the Campus Citizens Club, Chorus, Dramatics, Letterman’s Club, and 60-Minute Club and played on the football, basketball, and baseball teams; the latter of which was the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference champion in 1959. Larry graduated in 1961. He went onto Eastern Kentucky University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in 1967.
During November 1967, Larry joined the United States Navy and completed Officer’s Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He served in the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 in Gulfport, Mississippi and Vietnam. After 2 years, E-3 Wallace was separated out to Naval Reserves. Lieutenant Wallace was honorably discharged after 12 years.
From July 1969 to February 1971, he worked as an Adjuster for the General Adjustment Bureau on Victory Parkway. During 1970, he married Donna M. Bamberger.
Larry joined the City of Cincinnati initially in February 1971 in the Cincinnati Recreation Commission as a Community Center Director II. He was appointed Police Recruit in the 56th Recruit Class on October 24, 1971. He was promoted to Patrolman on March 12, 1972, issued Badge 827, and assigned to District 5 (1012 Ludlow Avenue). On January 5, 1975, Officer Wallace was transferred to District 1 (310 Ezzard Charles Drive). During March 1976 he was instrumental in identifying two suspects in the beating death of a 45-year-old woman in Uptown Towers. He transferred to District 3 on March 20, 1983. Officer Wallace was, according to his supervisors, a very dependable officer until 1991 when he suffered an injury that limited his ability to work. He accepted a disability retirement on February 15, 1992 with 25 years of service to the country and city and 24 letters of appreciation and/or commendation.
Officer Wallace died at his residence on August 8, 2022 at the age of 79½.
He was predeceased by his sister, Wanda Petry. Officer Wallace is survived by his wife of 52 years, Donna M. (Patrick) Wallace; sons, Michael Bamberger and John (Aimie) Bamberger; grandchildren: Justin (Chuaa), Joshua (Tiffany), Ashton, Emily, Nicholas, and Jessica; five great-grandchildren; and brother, Ronald Wallace.
Visitation will be held 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 2022, at the Dobbling Funeral Home at 106 South Fort Thomas Avenue in Fort Thomas. A FOP service will be held at 10:45 a.m. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m .Burial will follow at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery at 205 Eibeck Lane in Williamstown.
Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 223 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Suite 301, Nashville, TN 37203 or Officer Down Memorial Page, c/o Cincinnati Chapter, PO Box 1047, Fairfax, VA 22038-1047.
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