Nicholas J. Wall
With his loving family by his side, Nicholas J. Wall, 90, of Marion made the final turn for “home” on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. He crossed the finish line of this life with flying colors and what a great run!
Nick was born on May 9, 1928 to Lester E. and Hester (Kuntz) Wall in Richwood. He attended Richwood High School and was a member of the graduating class of ‘46. He was a fierce competitor in the classroom and in athletics where he finished at the top of his class and held the single game scoring record in both basketball and football.
After high school, Nick attended The Ohio State University. He returned to Richwood in 1949 to run the family business, the Richwood Lumber Co. In the 1950s and ‘60s, he partnered with contractor Frank Postell and together they built many of the finer homes in Marion.
In 1949, Nick married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life Dottie (Cheney), surviving. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in May. Flush or thin, high or low, they were lovingly devoted to each other for life.
Nick and his brother, Bill Wall founded Wall Bros Stable in the late ‘50s and raced harness horses primarily in the Chicago area. In the early 70s, he teamed up with world champion trainer/driver Joe Marsh, Jr. and raced world-class horses such as “Jefferson” and “Ajax” but his favorite horse was an old trotter by the name of Mudge Demon. He started him 84 times and he never made a break. Although he remained in harness racing for the remainder of his life, he became a licensed Realtor in 1974 and formed Wall Real Estate in 1976. Nick was a successful farm Broker until his retirement in the early 1990s. During his lifetime as a businessman, he didn’t turn his best friends into customers; he turned his customers into best friends.
Nick loved to fish and enjoyed taking his friends perch and walleye fishing at Lake Erie and Escanaba, MI. His greatest fishing feat was the first and only time he went deep sea fishing and reeled in a 9 ½ foot, 165 lb. blue marlin off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale, but his greatest “catch” was Dottie. Nick was also an avid golfer and enjoyed golfing with his buddies at Kings Mill where he was known to have made a bet or two. ☺ He aced the 2nd hole at Marion Country Club and eagled the 3rd.
After he retired, he and Dottie sold their winter home in Florida so that he could proudly watch and sideline “coach” his grandkids in all their sporting events. He was, by far, their biggest fan!
Besides his loving and devoted wife, Dottie, Nick is survived by his sons Charlie (Myrna) and Nick (Jody) both of Marion and Joe (Kelli) of West Liberty and daughter Julie (Jeff) Robinson of Marysville, a very dear brother Dr. Lester Wall, St. Simons Island, Ga and a sister Anabel Sult, Miami Springs, FL. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews he loved very much. He was preceded in death by a brother, William K. Wall and a sister, Rosemary Taylor. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren of whom he was so proud, Jesse Wall, Bart Wall, Bret Wall, Nick Wall, Ashley Thompson, Erin Russo, Hailey Rorie, McKenzie Price, Trent Phipps, Brooke Vermillion, Haden Wall, and Paityn Wall and 15 great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be Monday, November 19, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Richwood First United Methodist Church with Pastor Joe Rhea officiating. Burial will follow in Claibourne Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 5 PM at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 18 S. Fulton Street, Richwood, OH 43344, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org), and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 42 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home