My Biography

Robert Wallace - Born in Elyria, Ohio in 1947, and graduated in 1965 from Elyria High School. His major activity in high school was playing drums in the school band, and in an early vintage 1960's rock 'n roll band. He went to Muskingum College and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education. His first job after graduating was in Utica, Ohio, a rural consolidated school district, teaching 7th grade general music, 8th grade and high school chorus, 7th and 8th grade band, and assistant marching band. 

In 1971, Robert moved to the neighboring school district of East Knox in Knox County. There he was the instrumental music department, grades 5 - 12. He served there for three years. 

Robert married Ramona James in 1970. Their first home was a moble home next door to the United Methodist Church. Just after they settled in, Robert became the new choir director, and Ramona became the new organist. They served together in Utica for four years, and in 1974 moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio. Robert had accepted a position as high school band and chorus director at Indian Valley North High School. They soon became choir director and organist at the Broadway United Methodist Church in New Philadelphia. 

After one year at Indian Valley, Robert began work at Young Music and Sound in Millersburg serving as an educational sales representative to fifty schools. In the process of calling on school band directors, he found the job where he felt he would fit. In May of 1976, that job opened up, two blocks from the store where he was working. He served the West Holmes Local Schools in Millersburg as a junior high and elementary band director and assisted the high school marching band from 1976 until his retirement in 2000. 

In 1981, they moved their chuch membership to the New Philadelphia First United Methodist Church. Ramona became the handbell choir director in 1984 and the organist in 1987. Robert assisted Ramona with the handbell choir and after her death in 2000, he took over the position of handbell choir director, and served in that position until May, 2010. 

In the summers between 1972 and 1978, Robert earned a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University. He has taken additional course work from Ashland University, University of Akron, Vandercook College of Music, Stark State College of Technology, and Kent State University- Tuscarawas Campus. 

Two new additions to the Wallace household came in 1977 and 1978 with Jason and Jayna. 

In 1976, Robert joined the Tuscarawas County chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. He has served as music vice-president and served as their music director from 2001 till 2012, and has resumed directing in 2013. He is now a certified director of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

In 1980, Robert developed an interest in personal computers after West Holmes Junior High purchased a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. He spent many hours learning BASIC programming. He then purchased a Radio Shack Color Computer-16K of memory and cassette recorder for data and program storage. The monitor was the family TV. He taught Jason and Jayna to read and drill math concepts using programs he wrote or found in magazines. In 1990, West Holmes Schools moved to Macintosh computers. This allowed Robert to add music notation and desktop publishing skills to his computer abilities . 

At the end of May, 2000, Robert retired from teaching. His hope is to find another job that would use his computer skills, teaching experience, or provide an opportunity to serve in music ministry. 

After Ramona's death, the church searched for over six months to find a replacement. They finally found Carolyn Brewer, an organist in Stow, Ohio, who was looking for a change. Robert did not realize that shortly after she began serving in New Philadelphia, several people in the church started praying that she and Robert would get together. On March 3rd, 2002, Robert and Carolyn were married. 

Robert and Carolyn are now members of Christ United Methodist Church in Alliance, Ohio. Carolyn serves as organist and plays in two bell choirs. Robert plays in two bell choirs and sings in the Chancel Choir
From 2011 until 2018, Robert served as the handbell choir director for Emmanel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia.