Wallace E. Hudson Jr., veteran, Beebe retiree
Wallace “Wally” E. Hudson Jr. of Lewes died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. He was born Oct. 12, 1945, in St. Agnes Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., the oldest of five children to Wallace E. and Edna C. Hudson. After living in South Philadelphia for three years, the family moved to Haddon Heights, N.J.
At some point, Wally had attended all the public schools in Haddon Heights and graduated in 1963 from Haddon Heights High School. He participated in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Vagabonds Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, and community baseball and basketball in Little League and Babe Ruth League.
Following high school, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., and then transferred to Rutgers University in Camden, N.J., where he earned a degree in economics in 1967. While at Rutgers, he lettered for three years in soccer, organized and was president of the Varsity Club, served as sports editor of the school newspaper and yearbook, and was a member of Kappa Sigma Upsilon fraternity.
Upon graduation from Rutgers, he began a career in journalism with the Lebanon Daily News (Pennsylvania). Two months later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent 14 months in Vietnam, during which time he earned the Army Commendation Medal.
In 1971, Wally became a reporter for the Reading Eagle (Pennsylvania) and later was named the business editor. At one point in his career with the Reading Eagle, he gained a national reputation as the lead reporter during the initial days of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in 1979. The Reading Eagle won the AP National Managing Editors Conference Award for news reporting and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
Following his newspaper days, Wally worked in public relations for Carpenter Technology Corporation in Reading, Pa., and later for Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pa., before moving to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Wally retired in 2011, as vice president of corporate affairs. He was also president of the Beebe Physician Network.
While in Delaware, at one time or another, he served on the board of directors of United Way of Delaware, United Way of Sussex County, Lewes Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club, as well as a member of Delmarva Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
When he returned from Vietnam, he married Betty Carol Ungemach Aug. 30, 1969, in Campbelltown, Pa. They have three children, Andrew (wife Leah) of Mukwonago, Wis., Timothy (wife Holly) of Newark, and Stephanie of Lewes. He has six granddaughters, Natalie Alexis and Melanie Allyssa of Newark, Abigail Lynne Whitcomb and Lyla Clara Whitcomb of Lewes, Phoebe Carol and Rose Mary of Mukwonago; and one grandson, Jackson Wallace Whitcomb of Lewes.
Wally is also survived by a brother, Jeffrey (Rose) of Haddon Heights, N.J.; a sister, Randi (Rexi) Rautanen of Cameron, N.C.; and 12 nieces and nephews. Another brother, Keith, died in 1994, and a brother, Dwayne, died in 2020.
By 2014, Wally was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The disease did not limit Wally’s life until years later. He bought his first boat before building a house when they moved to Delaware, and he enjoyed boating on Rehoboth Bay. Wally enjoyed his daily trips to the neighborhood pool and trips to the beach to read a Tom Clancy novel. He and Betty cruised and traveled, especially enjoying St. Maarten. He faithfully attended Conley’s United Methodist Church in Lewes.
However, his most loved activity was being with his family. He always put his family above everything else in life. He never missed a school performance, a cross-country meet, or an opportunity to watch his son surf. He pushed the cart while Betty shopped, washed the dishes, unloaded the dishwasher, and managed to never put the dishes back in the correct place.
Grandchildren brought Wally the most joy. He attended as many performances, birthday parties, and special events as possible. His quiet love of the theatre grew while watching his grandchildren perform on stage. Seeing three of his grandchildren perform in “Mamma Mia” was a highlight in his life.
Wally’s impact on the lives of those around him cannot be emphasized enough in an obituary.
A celebration of Wallace’s life will be held with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 3, at Conley’s United Methodist Church, 33106 Jolyn’s Way, Lewes, followed by a service at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donate to Conley’s UM Church or a charity of choice.
Visit Wally’s Life Memorial at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
