Wallis J Tolles was born in Tacoma, Washington on February 13, 1923. He died in Indio,California on April 4, 2018.

Wally served in the United States Army Air Corp as a pilot during WWII. He flew 31 missions as a bomber pilot over Germany. He was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with three oak clusters.

After the war he worked briefly for Boeing before going into sales for RCA records. He had wonderful stories to tell about all of the recording artists he met. Wally and his wife Sandra also had the Tolles Gallery on Mercer Island for many years.

Wally raised his family on Mercer Island. He later resided in Indio during the winter, playing golf and in the summer overlooking the Puget Sound on Stretch Island. He would be the first to tell you that he had a wonderful life. He was an honaorable, humble man who had a great sence of humor.

He was married to his wife Sandra for 50 years. She was devoted to him and him to her. He was loved and admired by his children Julia (Gary) Brooks, Richmond (Judy) Tolles, Pamela (Guy) Jones, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.