Wallace Melrose Tripp, age 92, of Owatonna passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, November 30, 2012, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta, MN, from natural causes. A charter member of the Greatest Generation, Wallace 'Wally' was born in Ruthven, Iowa, to Chester Arthur and Ina (Rinehart) Tripp. He graduated from Spencer High School in Spencer, IA, and obtained a B.A. degree from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA in 1942. After college he was employed by the F.B.I. in Washington D.C., and then enlisted in the U.S. Army where he obtained the rank of Master Sergeant, Criminal Investigation Division, during the European theatre of war from 1943-1946. Wally married his college sweetheart, Dorothy 'Dot' Parrott, on March 12, 1946 in Owatonna, MN. He obtained his Juris Doctor Law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1949, and returned to Owatonna to live and practice law at the firm of Nelson, Casey, Tripp Dow for 40 years. Wally was a civic minded gentleman, and was very active in the Owatonna community over the years. He served as President of the Owatonna United Fund, Owatonna JC''s, Owatonna Shrine Club, Fifth Judicial District Bar Association., and Steele County Bar Association. Wally proudly served as the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Fifth District Bar Association for many years. Since 1975 he has been a Trustee with the Owatonna Foundation, and served as Chairman of the Executive Committee from 1988 1998. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Owatonna United Methodist Church, the Owatonna Country Club, and Wilderness Country Club (Naples, FL). Wally was a long time member of the Owatonna Masonic Lodge, Elks Club, Shrine Club, Owatonna United Methodist Church, North Naples Methodist Church, Owatonna and Wilderness Country Clubs, Minnesota Bar Association (since 1949) and American Bar Association (since 1955). Wally and his wife, Dot, did extensive travel on all continents except South America. Since 1980 they wintered in Naples, FL, where they enjoyed playing golf. In the summer months they enjoyed friends and family in Owatonna and at their lake cabin in LeSueur County. They loved to fish and hosted an annual Canadian fishing trip for their family and grandchildren. Wally is survived his son David (and Julie) Tripp of Sauk Rapids; a daughter-in-law Patricia Tripp of Chanhassen, and brother Stanley Tripp of Northampton, MA. He was blessed with six grandchildren whom he loved dearly: Stephen Tripp, Andrew Tripp, Jonathan Tripp, Aaron (and Amy) Tripp, Rachel (and Christopher) Moore, and Katie (and Stephen) LeVoir. He was preceded in death very recently (09/08/12) by his beloved wife of 66 years, Dot, his son Douglas, and his brother Charles. The family of Wally and Dot would like to invite you to celebrate his life with them. Visitation is at Michaelson Funeral Home, Owatonna, on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Owatonna, followed by fellowship time. Private interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. The family would like to thank Quiet Oaks Hospice House for their loving attention and care. Memorials are preferred to the Owatonna Foundation and the Owatonna United Methodist Church. Visitation: 12/03/2012 16:00 12/03/2012 19:00 Service: and one hour prior to the service at the church 12/04/2012 11:00