Jean Tomlinson Wallace's Obituary
Jean Tomlinson Wallace of Germantown, Tennessee passed away May 11, 2021. She was born December 8, 1928 in Memphis, and was 92 at the time of her death.
The only daughter of Bertha and Watson Tomlinson, Jean attended Snowden School and graduated from St. Agnes Academy in Memphis. In April of 1948, she married her high school sweetheart, John (Jack) Wallace, and they had one daughter, Beverly Wallace McCraw. They enjoyed 59 wonderful years of marriage until his death in 2007.
Jean spent 38 years working at Lowenstein’s Department Store. She would always say “she grew up” in retailing, beginning in sales, advancing to assistant buyer, then buyer, and finally as store manager before retiring. She met and loved many lifelong friends while working at Lowenstein’s.
Always active, kind and caring, Jean began volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis upon retirement. For fifteen years, she ran the “goodie” cart, visited and encouraged patients, and was a very active member of the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary, serving several years as its president.
She joined Hope Presbyterian Church in its early years. Her love of children and service led her to the church infant nursery, where she was fondly known as Grandma Jean. For 13 years, she loved every opportunity to go to Hope Church and rock and love on “her” babies.
Talented in knitting and needlepoint, her beautiful hand-work was shared with many including family, friends, and organizations where she volunteered.
In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Tomlinson, and her son-in-law, Charlie McCraw.
She is survived by her daughter, Beverly; granddaughter, Elizabeth McCraw Neyland (Parker) of Denver, CO; and grandson, John Harris McCraw (Emily) of Nashville, TN. She also leaves two great-granddaughters, Harris Louise Neyland and Ivy Cole Neyland.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00am, Friday, May 14, at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. in Memphis.
The family asks that memorials be directed to Hope Presbyterian Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38018.
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