Wallace Essig

After a brief illness, Wallace Ammon Essig, 95, or Wally as he was known to all, was called home to be with the Lord our God, to be reunited with his beloved wife of 71 years, Carmela. He leaves behind his daughters Linda, (Bob) Beckett, Rosemary (Dan) Koch, granddaughter Kelly (Danny) McPherson, grandson Bobby (Kayla) Beckett, Great Grandchildren, Hailey, Ayden, Aubrianna, Bobby Jr., sister-law Nancy (Maurice) Hohman, brother-in-law Robert Lozier and many nieces, nephews, friends, and countless friends that he simply hadn't met yet. Wally was born in Willow Springs, Missouri in 1922, and came to the Akron, Ohio area in 1940 where he met his wife and soul mate, Carmela. At the outbreak of World War II, he joined the US Navy where he proudly served as a communications specialist and was stationed on the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. After the war he became a member of the Frank Lazzaro VFW Post 218. Wally was a man of wide and varied interests including ham radio (very fluent in Morris Code), carpentry, upholstery, industrial sewing and was a self-employed craftsman most of working career. Music was a big part of his life, (he played clarinet, saxophone, and piano), and dancing with wife and lifetime dance partner, Carmela. 'They are dancing again.' Wally and Carmella were charter members of St. Hilary Catholic Church, and he was also a charter member of the local Optimists Club. Whenever life dealt Wally lemons, he simply made lemonade and gave us all a drink. Goodnight sweet Prince, May choirs of angels sing thee to thy rest. The family will receive friends Tuesday, October 24, 4-7 pm at Hummel Funeral Home, 3475 Copley Rd., Copley. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25, 11:00 am at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W. Market St., Akron. Interment Rose Hill Burial Park.