Wallace Rhea Napier

Wallace Rhea Napier
April 6, 1934 – January 22, 2024



Wallace (Wally) Napier was born in Bulan, Kentucky on April 06, 1934. He grew up assisting his father in their rural community grocery store. After graduating high school, Wallace attended Eastern Kentucky State College. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1956 while teaching cabinet construction. After graduation, he married Anna Faye on June 16, 1956.

After a brief period as a shop teacher, he fulfilled his ROTC obligation and embarked on a career in the United States Army. Wallace enrolled in flight school earning his aviation diploma in 1958 then his rotary wing qualification in 1959. He was deployed to both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts as a pilot, ending his combat tenure as Commanding Officer of the B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 1st Brigade Infantry Division in South Vietnam in 1968-1969.

Wallace was an unsung hero. He did not share much about his wartime deployments, storing all of his immense wartime commendations in a trunk in the closet. He was a highly decorated soldier having earned the following medals: (Two Awards) Army Commendation Medals, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, (Four) Overseas Service Bars, (Seventeen) Air Medals, Senior Army Aviator Badge, (Two Awards) Meritorious Service, (Two Awards), Distinguished Flying Cross (Two Awards), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Valorous Unit Award, Force Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (Unit), (Three) Overseas Service Ribbons, and the Legion of Merit.

Wallace continued his military career with several other major accomplishments including heading the COBRA/TOE Missile Testing Program in 1971 (Fort Hood), the Army Representative to the Federal Aviation Administration in 1979 (Fort Worth) and finally retiring from the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command Office in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1984. He returned to Keller soon after.

Wallace was a highly skilled antique clock and watch hobbyist, often referred as an expert in the repair and restoration of antique clocks and watches. As a member of the National Association Watch and Clock Collectors for over 50 years, he attended many clock shows nationwide with many of his clock enthusiast friends. He was also a skilled machinist, cabinet maker, and a Volkswagen enthusiast.

Wallace is preceded in death by Betty Jo and Alfred Napier of Hurst.
He is survived by his wife Anna Faye, sons David of Keller and Michael of Maui; grandchildren Josh of Arlington, Staesha of Arlington. Great grandchildren include Conor and Colton of Rapid City, South Dakota and Surayah, Savannah and Isaac of Arlington.