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Wallace A. Leach, 86, of Gallup, NM, died peacefully in Scottsdale, AZ on June 24, 2010. Wally was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. A native of New Mexico, he was born in Clovis June 9, 1924. He graduated from Portales High School and attended Eastern New Mexico College. He reached the rank of Master Sergeant in the Army during WWII. He was a former rancher and farmer in the Clovis area as well as a pressman and Linotype operator at the Portales Daily News and the Clovis News Journal. He was a resident of Gallup for 55 years. He is a former owner and publisher of the Gallup Independent, business manager for the Farmington Daily Times, and shop foreman for the Tucumcari Daily News. He began his career in the newspaper business in high school. He owned and operated Gallup Printing and Office Supply for 46 years. He is also the former owner of Gallup Saddle Shop. Wally was a former District Governor for the Lions Club and former President of the Gallup Lions Club. He was President of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Association, the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, and the Gallup Yeis. He was a member of BPOE Elks Lodge, the New Mexico Press Association and New Mexico Newspapers Association. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Babe; his parents, John and Mary Leach; and several brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife, Jessie; his son Terry Leach and wife Onorina of Albuquerque; his daughter Jan Smith of Gallup; stepchildren, Joel Quinones of Gallup and Linda DeSpain of Joseph City Arizona; granddaughters, Jessica Byrd, Tisha Smith and Ashley Leach of Albuquerque, Kyndee Keeler, LaNee' Dayton and Alisha Smith of Gallup; nine great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; his brother Earnest Leach; his sister Mary Blakely; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on July 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1800 Red Rock Drive, in Gallup. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike McMahon, Bob Olive, Scott Richards, Kiki Alonso, Joel Quinones, Jay DeSpain, Ben Lewis, and Bill Lewis. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the New Mexico Lions Eye Bank. 505-266-3937.
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