Harold F. Wallace Jr.

Harold “Wally” Wallace
9/15/1937 – 1/16/2022
Harold Frank Wallace, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 16, at the age of 84.

Known to his friends as Wally, or Wally Gator, he was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Bradenton in 1959 following his service in the Army.

An entrepreneur at heart, he began work in the family business at the original Burger Queen on 14 th Street and was also a salesman for Bill Cook Ford. In 1970, he began running
downtown’s Gator Lounge (formerly the Lopez Lounge) and ultimately owned it for many years. He transformed the Gator Lounge into one of Bradenton’s classic go-to spots until 2001 when he retired. He went on to build a successful new business selling medical equipment. Wally was an avid sports fan, following the New York Yankees from childhood and the Florida Gators from the early 1960’s. He was also a Bucs fan, holding season tickets for many years beginning with their inception in 1976.

An even bigger event took place in 1976 when he married Robbie Surratt who joined him in his many travel adventures including attending numerous Super Bowls, annual trips to the Indy 500 and Daytona 400 and 500, touring the U.S. in their motorhome, and taking several cruises.

Wally was an excellent golfer and also led the Gator Lounge softball team for many years. He collected classic cars, did sky-diving back in the 1970’s, and rode motorcycles for many years. Along with his adventurous spirit, he also loved gatherings with family and friends and was known for telling the best jokes and for being a proud and patriotic American. In addition, he was proud to be a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, a former Eucharistic minister, and a greeter at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He had a big heart for animals and was especially fond of his chocolate lab, Chloe.

Friends and family knew Wally as having a zest for life and an out-going personality that lit up a room. He loved people and valued his life-long friends. He was known by nearly everyone around town and could rarely enter a store or restaurant without someone saying ‘Hey Wally!’. Every year at Christmas he would toast the family and declare that he was the luckiest man on earth.

Wally is preceded in death by his parents, Harold Wallace, Sr. and Kathleen Strumpfler and his sisters, Joan Pillar and Marie Sibbio.

He is survived by his wife Robbie and his daughters, Jean Wallace and Carole Wallace Post.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, February 3 rd from 5 – 7pm at Shannon Funeral Home, 1015 14 th St. W., Bradenton. There will be a memorial mass on Friday, February 4 th at 9:30am at Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles Church, 2850 75 th Street W., Bradenton, followed by a burial in the Church’s Memorial Garden. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held following the burial at the Church’s Moretti Center from 11am – 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation in Wally’s name to the Humane Society of Manatee County or Vintage Paws Sanctuary.