Edith was born on Christmas Day, 1928, to Hans and Betty (Hömerlein) Schoch in Fürth,
Germany. When she was about 2 years old the family moved to Benrath (Düsseldorf), Germany
where she spent most of her youth. Nightly runs to the bomb shelter became a way of life for
Edith as a child and she was eventually sent to a boarding school at a castle.
When about 15, Edith, her sister and parents packed what they could onto bicycles to pedal
across Germany to relatives near Schwäbish Hall. They wanted to be where the Americans
were, not the Russians.

After the war, Edith got a job with the American Army where she met her future husband, Les.
Edith and Les were married in June, 1948, and were on a ship to America as the Berlin airlifts
began. They began their life together in San Mateo. Their first child, Leslie Karen, was born 1
year before Edith became a proud U.S. citizen in 1952.

The American way of life was embraced by Edith. As their family grew the Wallaces moved to
Sunnyvale, Ca. Edith centered her interests around the activities of her children. She and Les
were charter members of the Pippin Elementary School PTA; in 1964 both were awarded
honorary life memberships. Edith was active in the programs her children loved be it Little
League Baseball, Camp Fire Girls, or having summer passes to Washington Park Swim Center.
Swimming became a way of life after the kids joined the Mtn. View Dolphin Swim Club.
Edith immersed herself in the swim program, eventually becoming the founder of the Sunnyvale
(Blue Seals) Swim Team in 1968. The team is still active today as a private club. Edith helped
coach the Sunnyvale team and later was head coach of the Wilcox Aquatics Swim Team.
Besides her dedication to swimming, Edith found joy in hobbies such as flower arranging for the
church, singing in the choir, sewing, painting, gardening, stamp collecting, photography,
motorcycle riding, caring for her pets, and playing accordion duets with Les. In 1978 Les
purchased a horse for Edith. The mare, Moonshadow, was a joy for both of them, and they
decided to move to Gilroy to have the horse with them. Edith loved her "Shadow" and the foals
she had. Breeding, showing and loving Arabian horses became her new focus. The Wallaces
expanded their love for horses by boarding, rehab, and caring for horse and pony rescues for
the Humane Society. Most all of the family pets were rescues that Edith loved very much.
Through all this, Edith was also a dedicated employee of JC Penney for many years.
Edith was pre-deceased by her husband, Les, and sister, Inge Roscher. She is survived by her
children Leslie Karen Eppenbach, Gerhard Wallace (Flora) and Heide Unger (Dale). She is also
survived by her grandchildren Errin Clark (Leiza), Brian Clark (Tassy), Kevin Wallace, Diana
Jack (Corey), Juliana Cox (Hunter), Elizabeth Gonzalez (John) and step-grandchildren Mike
Eppenbach, Jay Eppenbach (Lelah), David Unger (Mahreen), Chris Unger and Joanna Arellano
(Cruz). Edith has 12 great grandchildren and 6 step- great grandchildren. She is also survived
by two nieces and their families in Germany and her dog, Bobby.
Edith loved her family and friends, her animals and life. Our Mom, Grandma, Oma will be greatly
missed.

Services are to be held at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Ave., Gilroy, Ca 95020 on
Friday, October 4 at 2 pm with reception for Family and Friends to follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers the family appreciates a donation to the Monterey County SPCA, the American
Heart Association or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.