John Earl Wallis

JOHN EARL WALLIS October 31, 1934 - August 29, 2023 On Halloween, October 31, 1934, John Earl Wallis was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His family had made their home in Oklahoma for four generations. His great-grandmother, a young widow, made the "Run" into Indian Territory on horseback to claim land near what is now Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, J. C. and Jewel Wallis. He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice (Petty) of Tulsa; sister, Helen Wallis Pummill of Tulsa; sister-in-law, Ellen Petty Gilbert (Paul) of Allen, TX; nephew, Ryan Gilbert (Deet) of Charlotte, NC; niece, Emily Gilbert Myhre (Nick) and grandnephew and grandniece, Luke and Rachel Myhre of Allen, TX. John attended Tulsa Central High School, graduating in 1952. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1957 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in three States: Oklahoma, California and Nevada. He was a member and President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, a member of LKOT, Loyal Knights of Old Trusty, member and President of the Engineer's Club, member of Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary Engineering Fraternity and was selected as Big Man on Campus his senior year at O. U. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Ordinance. In 1958, he went to work for the Trane Company as a Sales Engineer in Oklahoma City. In 1968, a year after he and Mary Alice were married, he purchased the Trane Franchise for Commercial and Industrial Heating and Air Conditioning Sales and Service for Northern California and Northern Nevada and moved to Sacramento. He sold his business in 1991 and began a period of indulging his favorite pastimes of tennis, fly-fishing and the consumption of wine and food. He and Mary Alice traveled the world, visiting the seven Continents, fifty States and many fly-fishing lodges. He fished on five Continents, and his trips included Chile, Argentina and Tierra del Fuego in South America, Mongolia, the Ponoi Peninsula and Kamchatka in Russia, Ireland, England, Scotland and British Columbia. His favorite fishing spots were New Zealand, Alaska and the Big Horn River in Montana. He had piles of photographs memorializing his catches and was thrilled when his image appeared on a Billboard along Interstate 5 advertising the recreational opportunities of Dunsmuir, CA. His picture (with fish) was also featured on the website for Poronui Lodge in New Zealand. He was introduced to fine California wines by a friend, Mal Huntley, shortly after he arrived in Sacramento. Darrell Corti abetted him further, educating him in that pursuit. That was when he discovered Vintage Port and he was able to acquire both his and Mary Alice's birth year vintages. Merchant and friend, David Berkley, continued to feed his thirst for more and better. His goal was to be able to drink a ten-year old bottle of wine, purchased at release, every evening with dinner and for many years, did just that. When he was in business, he loved being able to serve his dinner guests a bottle of wine from their birth year. John was a member of the Sacramento San Joaquin Branch of the International Wine and Food Society, having served as President and Cellar-Master. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the Americas of the IW&FS and for many years was charged with awarding Internships to Viticulture and Oenology Students at U. C. Davis who were interested in working in the Industry, Internationally. John believed that he was very blessed in his life, being at the right place at the right time. He worked hard and loved the work he did. He always enjoyed a good meal and in Tulsa made frequent stops at the Coney Island. On one visit, they were celebrating their 90th Anniversary and all hot dogs were 90 cents each. John consumed five or six coneys on that occasion. He loved a good dinner with good wine and friends and he loved to laugh. At the time of his death, he and Mary Alice were residents at Trinity Woods in Tulsa, having moved there in 2022. No services are scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.