Wallace “Wally” Hugh Moore, 87, passed away on August 27, 2015 at the Tonasket North Valley Extended Care facility, surrounded by his family.

Wallace Hugh Moore was born to Edna Bernice (Penrod) Moore and Leon Aubrey “Aub” Moore March 25, 1928, in Wenatchee, Washington. The family moved to Omak, WA, where he grew up and graduated from Omak High School. He graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., majoring in music education.

Wally’s first teaching position was with the high school at Newport, Wash. The Army chose him in March of l953, during the Korean War. He became a Sergeant in the Signal Corp and was stationed at the Pentagon and then at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. As a cryptologist, he decoded messages from all over the world for the Pentagon concerning hydrogen bomb trials.

Following his Army time he worked briefly at the General Motors plant in Long Beach, Calif. He married Harlene Diana Towsley of Santa Maria, Calif. in 1955. She is also a Whitworth graduate. (This September they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.)

The couple moved to Seattle, Wash., where Wally attended the University of Washington for his fifth year. From there they moved to Tonasket, Wash., where Wally taught music to grades 5-12, retiring in 1979. He was a well-liked teacher and had an outstanding music program. He directed choirs and several bands including concert, marching, jazz, pep, and pit band for school musicals.

Wally enjoyed his students and has always remembered them and the instrument they played. Several of his students went on to become music teachers. To quote one student who pretty well sums up the comments of many who have written Wally over the years: “He had the greatest positive impact on my life of anyone before or since and I am so thankful. Truly I loved him.”

Wally was Mr. Music Man of Tonasket. His main instruments were trumpet, sax, and lastly he played the french horn in the Okanogan Valley Orchestra. He also sang in the Okanogan Valley Chorus. Over the years he was in several dance bands and quartets. Music was his love, always conducting music as he heard it played. He was a member of the Tonasket Community Church and sang in or directed their choir.

During his life, Wally belonged to and helped in a number of organizations including: Kiwanis, Washington Music Educators Association, Habitat for Humanity, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the American Legion, U.S. Armed forces Legacy, Washington State School Retirees’ Association and a fun favorite, The Village Green Marching Society. He loved playing tennis and won first place in the doubles regional tournament while attending Whitworth College. He coached tennis at Tonasket High School and then continued to play as long as he was able. He enjoyed a poker game with a group of fellow teachers for many years, and in early years, hunting, fishing and bowling. He was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Town of Tonasket. After retiring from teaching he worked for fellow teacher Walt Kelley in his orchard.

Wally and Harlene have three daughters: Karen Moore, Tonasket; Suzanne (Reg) Kelly, Omak; and Linda (Dave) Frank, Spokane. They have three grandchildren Tyler James Frank, Erin Nicole Frank, and Brent Michael Wallace Turner. Family also includes nephews Ted (Sylvia) Moore, and Dirk (Pam) Moore; close cousins Michael Squires, Marjory Pemberton and Bob Penrod, their families and many other cousins.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard “Dick” Moore and several aunts, uncles and his niece, Cindy.

Bergh Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. A celebration of Wally’s life will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at the Tonasket High School Commons, 35 Hwy. 20 Tonasket, Wash., at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Wally to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758512 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8512; North Valley Extended Care of Tonasket, 22 W. First St. Tonasket, WA 98855; American Cancer Society 920 N. Washington #200 Spokane, WA 99201, or to a charity of your choice.

Wally loved people and making friends. He will be missed by many. He was a dear husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend.