The children of Dorrice A. Wallis of Grantsville, Utah, announce with great sorrow her death on Nov. 25, 2016. Dorrice was born March 20, 1920, in Trumansburg, New York. She studied music at Ithaca College, graduating in 1941, where she also met her future husband. She married Robert Neale Wallis (deceased) June 16, 1941, and subsequently raised six children while maintaining a long career as a music educator. After her first three children were born, Dorrice, Bob and the kids embarked on a three-year-long adventure touring across the United States in a travel trailer. Many stories and photographs endure from this period of their life. After the birth of their fourth child, they decided it was time to settle down in one place. They spent a brief period back in the northeast, but eventually moved permanently to central Florida, living in Clermont, Groveland, Orlando and Leesburg. Two more children were born while residing in Groveland. Dorrice enjoyed an illustrious and successful career as a music educator throughout her various positions in Lake County. At one time she was simultaneously the elementary music teacher, the high school choral director AND the high school band director in Groveland (not to mention many years as a church organist)! She completed her teaching career at Leesburg Senior High School, retiring in 1982. In her many years at Groveland and Leesburg high schools, her choruses and soloists earned many Superior ratings at the Florida Vocal Association Concert Festivals. She left a legacy of thousands of students who developed a love of music through her teaching and example, in some cases following in her footsteps. At this point she and Bob got the travel bug again, sold their home, bought another travel trailer and spent about seven years touring the country, visiting children and grandchildren and building more precious memories before returning to Florida. After Bob’s death in 1992, Dorrice became very active in church life and music. She became the staff pianist at Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church in Lecanto, Florida, where she served for about 15 years. She joined her son David and his wife Bonnie in Grantsville in 2011, where she discovered the First Baptist Church and a musical home once again. Survivors are her daughters Helene, Kathleen, Roberta and Marianne and sons David and William. Also surviving are numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements are by Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home in Grantsville. Condolences can be expressed at www.daltonhoopes.com.
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Dorrice A. Wallis
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