Duncan Saron Wallace, 86, passed away after a brief illness at his home in Harbor’s Edge. Survivors include his beloved wife of 62 years, Bernadene, his daughters Rochelle “Shelly” Wiltshire (Curt), Julia Dunn (Tom), and son Matthew Wallace; and his grandchildren: Rachel and Rebecca Naurath; Caroline, Elizabeth, and John Dunn; Tristan Wallace; Brett and Brian Wiltshire (Lizzy); and great grand daughter Cora Wiltshire. Duncan’s in-laws, Mary Wallace, Robert Mueller, Audrey and David Stenberg, Beverly and Tom Dobbs and their families also survive him. He is predeceased by his dear children, infant son Jeffrey and daughter Jennifer Wallace, as well as his brothers Bruce and Stuart Wallace and his sister Lynne Mueller.
Born in New York City, Duncan’s family moved to Colorado during his elementary school years. He proudly attended University of Wisconsin and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His Navy service brought him to Virginia Beach, where Duncan spent most of his professional career as an adult and child psychiatrist in private practice. He served as a member of the Virginia Beach School Board and as president of both the Virginia Beach Medical Society and the Virginia Psychiatric Society. Duncan was a member and elder at Bayside Presbyterian Church.
Duncan had an extraordinary work ethic and frugality that served him well in life. It began as a young man with a paper route and, after his retirement, continued as a consulting psychiatrist at Virginia Beach General Hospital and the Norfolk City Jail. Manual labor never deterred him. He was physically active until the last weeks of his life, preferring to climb the six flights of stairs to his Harbor’s Edge apartment. Duncan and Berny moved to Harbor’s Edge in 2021. While there, he enjoyed many new friendships and was an active participant in their activities and intellectual programs. Duncan was a voracious reader, enthusiastic world traveler and passionate skier with a lifelong curiosity about the world around him. He will be remembered as a loving spouse, a caring father and grandfather who valued his relationships with family and friends, both new and old.
A service to honor Duncan’s memory will be held Saturday, January 27 at 2 pm at Bayside Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières or to a charity of your choice.
