Charles Townsend Wallis

HENDERSONVILLE - Charles Townsend Wallis of Hendersonville died in Asheville Friday, May 17, 2013, after a brief illness. He was 85. Mr. Wallis was born November 14, 1927, in Biltmore, Asheville, to George Marsden Wallis, former manager of the Biltmore Estate Farm and Dairy, and Etta Beatrice Dillingham Wallis. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Alice Johnson Wallis (November 4, 1929-March 18, 2012) after 60 years of marriage; his brother George Marsden Wallis, Jr., of Arcadia, Fla.; his sister Margaret Wallis Haile of Orlando, Fla. Charles spent most of his high school years at Lee H. Edwards High School, Asheville, working alongside his father and brother to keep the Biltmore farm operations running smoothly during World War II, as so many of the farm employees were serving in the active military. He graduated in 1944. After a brief stint in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Wallis graduated from Brevard Junior College, Brevard, in 1948 and the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., in 1950. He then moved to Hawaii to work in agriculture. He met his wife Alice Rae Johnson, originally of Seattle, Wash., via San Pedro, Calif., in Honolulu and they were married in 1952. After 41 years of growing sugar cane and papayas, Mr. Wallis retired in 1991 and they moved back to the mainland U.S., eventually settling in Weaverville. They enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and several Canadian provinces, and taking numerous cruises. He was active in several community organizations, notably the Big Ivy Historical Society and Absalom Dillingham Cemetery, both in Barnardsville. He is survived by his son Richard Elliott Wallis of Honolulu, Hawaii; niece Rebecca Haile Davis and husband Bill of Celebration, Fla.; niece Marcille Wallis and husband Greg McGrath of Port Charlotte, Fla.; nephew George Marsden Wallis III and wife Shelia of Smyrna, Tenn.; and many cousins both in Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland. In memory, donations may be made to the Absalom Dillingham Cemetery Fund, c/o Joretta Hall, 147 Haw Branch Rd., Barnardsville, NC 28709. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Wallis' obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.