Former Turlock City Council Member Billy A. Wallen, born on January 14th, 1944, passed away earlier this week, at the age of 68. Wallen was married to Joan Kleiber Wallen, father to Ellen and Greg, and grandfather to Anthony, Rebekah, and Nathaniel.
“It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of former Councilmember Billy A. Wallen,” stated Mayor John Lazar in a press release. “He is remembered for his honorable and longstanding service to the City of Turlock.”
Mr. Wallen was hired by the Turlock Police Department on August 11, 1969 as a Police Officer, and retired as a Police Commander on May 2nd, 1998. His service to the Turlock community continued when he was first elected to the Turlock City Council in 1998 and reelected in 2002, serving two full terms.
Mayor John Lazar and the Turlock City Council extend their most sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Mr. Wallen’s viewing will be held on Friday, October 26th, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm at Allen Mortuary, located at 247 N. Broadway in Turlock. The funeral will be held at Monte Vista Chapel, located at the corner of Monte Vista and Berkeley, on Saturday, October 27th, at 11:00am.
Billy A. Wallen Obituary
Billy Wallen was born on January 14, 1944 in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School and attended Asuza Pacific College. In June of 1967, he married Joan Kleiber. In 1969, he was hired by Turlock Police Department where he served for 29 years.
During that time he delivered five babies, was a patrol officer, detective and community service officer where he taught neighborhood watch; trained people on motorcycle safety and taught children in schools about “stranger danger”, the D.A.R.E. program and the police explorer program.
He retired as a commander in 1998. Billy then continued to serve his community on the Turlock City Council for eight years. He loved his family and the City of Turlock, which he both faithfully served. He was very loved and will be missed.
Billy is survived by his wife of 45 years Joan Wallen; children Gregory Allen Wallen of Turlock, Ellen Pauline Wallen of Virginia Beach, VA and daughter in law Melissa (Fitzgerald) Wallen of Turlock; siblings Sybil Rohrer of Roswell, NM and Jerry Wallen of Turlock; grandchildren Anthony Sarment, Rebekah Sarment and Nathaniel Wallen. He is preceded in death by his parents Caroll and Pauline Wallen and sister Mary Hanrich.