Dallas Morning News
13 May 1955

WALLACE, Alvin Joe, 17-year-old Forney resident, died Thursday morning. Survived by parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Wallace, Forney, Texas; grandparents, Mrs. Eva Sue Moore, Forney; Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Wallace, Ben Wheeler, Texas, and other relatives. Funeral services from First Baptist Church in Forney, 3 p.m. Friday, with Rev. James Stanley and Rev. L.M. Joines officiating. Interment Hillcrest Cemetery, Forney. Pallbearers will be members of the Forney football team.

ANDERSON-CLAYTON BROS., 4-3301, Forney

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Forney Youth Fatally Injured in 2-Car Collision Wednesday Night

Unknown Forney Newspaper
1955

Funeral services will be held today at three o’clock at the First Baptist church for Alvin Joe Wallace, fatally injured Wednesday evening in an accident at the intersection of Center street and the Crandall Farm to Market Road.

Rev. L.M. Joines of Dallas and Dr. Jas. H. Stanley will officiate at the services. Interment will be in Hillcrest cemetery. Members of the Jackrabbit Football squad will serve as pallbearers.

Alvin Joe, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Wallace, was born at Commerce, January 25, 1938. He came with his parents to Forney when he was five years old. A Junior in High school, he was a popular football star, a member of the Forney High school band and an outstanding personality among the youth of the town.

The accident occurred as Jack McAnally, driving to won on the farm-to-market road and Alvin Joe, driving south on Center street, each failed to see the other, until too late to stop. The Wallace station wagon was knocked into Joe L. Compton yard and came to rest against Mr. Compton’s car, standing in the driveway. Wallace, thrown from his car, was taken to a Terrell hospital, where he died in a short time.

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News and Views
(The Editor)

The tragic accident Wednesday evening that claimed the life of one of Forney’s most promising youngsters, points to neglect of two important factors. Stop signs have long been a safety necessity at the intersections of Center and Crandall Road, and although traffic, seemingly did not justify it, this accident plainly indicates that Stop signs could have prevented it. Another factor that could have influenced the incident is a driver’s course in High school. Both driver’s involved in the accident could have received training in such a course in school, that would have instilled into them habits of precaution and trained their reflexes to take care of unexpected danger.

…. News and Views has pointed out the fact that where it is impossible to secure dealer participation in a drivers course promotion, the Chamber of Commerce or some such group can purchase a car for use at the school… This is done without loss of money by many car dealers…. but it involves tying up funds for nine months that some dealers feel it is impossible to spare. A civic organization would not necessarily look at the matter in this light and would be glad to invest the money in order to protect the community from the loss of a fine boy or girl…

Qualified teachers for such a course are already in our schools… and the teachers are ready to do all they can to help the boys and girls receive the proper training for this modern-day necessity – driving a car.

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In Memoriam
of Alvin Joe Wallace

We have lost a great friend;
In time our hearts will men,
Though we can never forget Alvin Joe,
Everyone loved him so.

Now he has gone to claim his crown
And new home within heaven’s bound.
He was a good, clean boy;
Wherever he went he spread joy.

God sent this gentle child to us.
Then, taking him to heaven is just.
Alvin Joe’s body is gone, and will return nevermore,
But his soul and memory will live forevermore.

He has answered the angel’s call,
And he’ll be there to greet us all.
With his glowing heart, he entered heaven’s door
To go to his God and stay forevermore.

–ROBIN SEYFERTH, Junior
Forney High School

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Our hearts are very heavy and sad today
Because Alvin Joe has gone away.
He was our friend, noble and fine
Always leaving his troubles behind.

You say he is dead; he has just gone away,
We all shall be with him on that wonderful day.
His smile we’ll remember; his cheery hello
Will remain with us always wherever we go.

We will always remember his friendship dear,
Through sunshine and shadows his spirit kept near.
He was a friend on whom we could depend
Ever faithful and true right to the end.

We are sad, but yet we know somehow
That Alvin is well and with his Keeper now.
But we will meet him again some day
Then we can all be happy and gay.

We ask, “Why did it happen to one so young and gay?”
But we shall never understand until the judgment day.
Where Alvin has gone life is not hard
Because I am sure he is in the Kingdom of the Lord.
Doing golden deeds for Him today
For that reason he was called away.

–By the SENIOR CLASS
of the Forney High school

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In loving memory of Alvin Joe
A friend of all, to none a foe.
How strange it seems that he had to part
With friends and loved ones with broken hearts!

It is not for us to judge,
Or in our hearts hold a grudge.
The Almighty God has touched Joe’s hand
And taken him to a far-away land.

There is no more to be in sorrow;
He is in the blest Tomorrow.
There he awaits to greet us all,
In God’s hand where we’ll never fall.

–BETTY PATTERSON

Note: Alvin Joe Wallace is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery with his parents.

I asked Sarah Pinson Harp about this young man and she had this to say:

“Yes, he was in my class in school. He died as a result of a car wreck which occurred the night before our Jr.-Sr. Prom. He was an only child and very popular; he would have been an attribute to society had he lived a longer life.”