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Barbara Wallace, right, looks over paperwork with her sister, Joy Tyree, at their Oceana residence. Wallace is a retired elementary school teacher, but she is still working full-time — in her church and several civic organizations. At the age of 74, the only thing slowing Wallace is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Rick Barbero/Register-Herald Photographer
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Retired teacher serves community despite illness

Oceana woman doesn’t let ALS keep her down

Mary Catherine Brooks
Wyoming County Bureau Chief

OCEANA — Though Barbara Wallace is a retired elementary school teacher, she is still working full-time — in her church and several civic organizations.

“In 1953, I left for Michigan. I taught school there for 38 years — third grade all those years. I used to say I couldn’t get promoted,” she joked.

The school principal allowed teachers to stay put if they were satisfied, she explained.

“And I loved it. The children in third grade still thought the teacher knew something and had a lot of respect for their teachers,” she said.

In 1992, Wallace opted for early retirement and returned to her hometown and her family.

“I still miss my friends and the social life we had there,” she noted.

It took her about a year to re-adjust to the small-town life because the Michigan community hosted numerous cultural events, concerts and plays.

“Everybody here was very friendly,” she said of her return. “They accepted me as if I’d never been away.”

Wallace and her sister, Joy Tyree, now share their home and lives, belonging to the same organizations and the same church — Kopperston Presbyterian.

She’s held several offices in the church and the district.

“When I came back and began working in the church, I told Joy I’d never worked so hard in my life as when I came back here,” she said with a laugh.

Currently, she is serving as president of the Oceana Woman’s Club, which is also nearly a full-time job.

“People don’t realize all the things the woman’s club does,” Tyree emphasized, noting they’ve sent Bibles to African countries, honored area veterans, supplied items to the local nursing and rehabilitation center, as well as baby blankets to Raleigh General Hospital, created community flower gardens, and the members volunteer at the local elementary and middle schools, among numerous other projects.

“We also have a lot of educational things,” Wallace added.

At the age of 74, the only thing slowing Wallace is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The disease causes an interruption in the signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, causing muscles to become smaller and weaker. It impacts people differently and there is no cure.

Wallace’s symptoms first surfaced as trouble with navigating stairs; she also fell a few times. As the symptoms progressed, she first used a cane, then a walker, and now uses a wheelchair.

“Joy is really good,” Wallace said of her sister. “She won’t let me just sit here.”

“I told her she wasn’t going to become a recluse,” Tyree said.

“If I see I’m going negative, it’s just like a TV channel, I just click and change it,” she emphasized.

One of the most difficult things was giving up her collection of high-heeled shoes.

“She had the most beautiful shoes — about 55 pairs of dress shoes. She loved shoes and had all colors and descriptions. They were really unique,” Tyree said.

Her medical appointments at the University of Virginia include visits with six specialists — from the doctor to nutritionists and a variety of specialized therapists — and take about four hours.

“They are all so caring and just wonderful,” Wallace said. “They are trying in every way to help you.”

Wallace has also learned to be more patient with the loss of her mobility.

“Nothing is easy now,” she said. “I’m stronger in the morning and my upper body strength is still very strong. Right now, I’m doing very well.”

— E-mail:

mcbrooks@register-herald.com
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