November 15, 1944 ~ June 7, 2024
Longtime Chaffee County resident, Donald Jeffers Wallace, age 79, passed away peacefully at his home on June 7th, 2024.
Don, also known as “Wonder Welder”, was born to Lillian & Searcy Wallace on November 15th, 1944, in Colorado Springs. His family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas when he was a child. From there, he served in the Air Force, and joined Local Pipefitters Union #798. His pipefitting career afforded him the opportunity to travel the United States working on large power plant projects. While working in Oswego, New York, Don met the love of his life, Kathie Conaway, and they married on June 2nd, 1972. Together, they continued traveling from boom town to boom town across the country before settling in Buena Vista in 1979 with their daughter, Angela.
Don decided to change careers in 1990, after the birth of their son, Brent. He became well-known throughout Colorado, as “Wonder Welder Trucking”. He continued to work locally, hauling dirt and paving roads throughout Chaffee County until just before his passing. He loved driving his dump trucks and according to one of his long-time co-workers, “Don would light up the day when he arrived on any job site”.
Throughout the years, he enjoyed various outdoor activities including hunting, target and trap shooting, fishing, four-wheeling, and riding his collection of Harley motorcycles. Don was an active member of the Buena Vista Sportsman Club for many years. He enjoyed spending time with all of his family, and his great grandchildren held an extra special place in his heart for the past eleven years.
Don is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years, Kathie; a daughter, Angela (Jeremiah); a son, Brent (Diane), as well as three grandchildren, Adam (Rachel), Shayanne, and Gary; and five great grandchildren, Micaya, Raelynn, Easton, Crystal, and Raynn.
Interment is pending at this time and will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chaffee County North End Search & Rescue.
