Mr. Aaron "Pete" "Pappy" Wallace, 93, of the Illinois Veterans Home, formerly of Yates City, IL, died at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday (February 4, 2009) in the home.

Born September 7, 1915 in Unionville, IL, Pete was a son of Charles and Missouri Louderback Wallace. He married Betty Barber in 1940 in Peoria, IL. She survives.

Pete was a 30 year member of the Church of Christ in Elmwood, IL. He played the fiddle and guitar and had sang since he was 10 years old. He was known as "The Olde Tyme", "The Music Maker" and "Pete "Pappy" Wallace's One Man Band". He played at festivals, nursing homes, senior citizens centers and many schools. After retiring from farming, music was his life. Pete was also a former member of the Masons and the American Legion in Yates City, IL. He also was in the Civilian Conservation Corps for two years. Pappy also served his country during World War II in the United States Army receiving the European-African Middle Eastern Ribbon with three Bronze Stars.

He was employed at Caterpillar in Peoria for 26 years and then farmed northwest of Yates City for 29 years until retiring in 1977.

In addition to his wife, Betty, Pappy is survived by a daughter, Andrea Blakely and her husband Bill of Smithfield, IL; two granddaughters; one great-grandson and one great-granddaughter, and also many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Wallace was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and four sisters.

Graveside services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 in the Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria, Illinois. Military services will be conducted by the Tazwell County Military Rites Team.

There will be no visitation but family and friends are invited to the graveside services.

Memorials may be made to the Illinois Veterans Home or to the Alzheimers Foundation in care of Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home, 1435 State Street, Quincy, Illinois, 62301.