[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING WILLIS ``WALLY'' WALLING
______
HON. MARK SANFORD
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Mr. SANFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Willis
R. Walling, who died on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at the age of
ninety-four. Affectionately known as ``Wally'' to me and many others,
he will be missed.
Born in Newark, NJ, he was the son of the late Willis H. and Gladys
R. Walling.
Those who knew Wally would say some of his fondest memories were of
the time he spent serving as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force
during World War II. You might even call his adventures ``legendary,''
with sixty-six missions in Europe and becoming the tenth Allied plane
to land in France after D-Day. He was one of the greatest supporters of
the Allied Forces through France and beyond.
After leaving the service, he and his wife, Peg, moved to New Jersey
where he served as President of Swan Manufacturing in Rockaway, NJ. It
was during his time in Rockaway that he and Peg became active in the
New Jersey Republican Party where he served as chairman for a period of
time.
As many Northerners do, he and Peg moved south after retirement.
Lucky for us South Carolinians, they chose Pawleys Island as their new
home. They both quickly became active in local politics. I had the
pleasure of meeting Wally during my first run for Congress in 1994 and
have since appreciated his kindness and hospitality. Of course, you
appreciate everyone who joins you in the heat of battle on the campaign
trail, but it is the ones who are with you from the beginning who you
hold closest to your heart. Wally was one of the loyal ones who would
stick with you.
Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and
personal courage are the seven values of the Army, and Wally was a man
who exemplified every one of them. His surviving daughters, Susan
Houser, Jeanne Auermuller (Bob), and Diane Dunham (Phil), eight
grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren can be proud of the man
they called ``Dad'' or ``Grandpa,'' and I have no doubt that they would
be. They will miss him dearly . . . and I will too.
____________________