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01/25/2013 11:00 AMWallace Albert Kline, a long time resident of Guilford, died peacefully at the Masonic Home in Wallingford on Jan. 14. He was the beloved husband of 69 years to Jacquelyn G. Kline. He was also the son of the late Wallace B. Kline and Mabel Viola Miller Kline.
Mr. Kline graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944. During his tour of duty, Wallace served with Casual Company in Quantico, Virginia. He was weapons qualified as a rifle sharpshooter and his military occupation specialty was metal smith and aviation. He specifically worked on the gull winged F4U Corsair and was discharged from his service duty on Jan. 17, 1947 as a corporal.
After his wartime service, Mr. Kline went on to work at Yale University and Sikorsky, where he witnessed the first helicopter test flights. Continuing in the aviation field, Wallace went on to work at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft from Oct. 27, 1952 until Jan. 31, 1981, retiring as a maintenance foreman. He also served as superintendent of Sunday Schools for the First Congregational Church in Guilford.
Mr. Kline was an avid boater, golfer, bowler, and walked every day for most of his life. He was also self-taught in the craft of chair caning and rushing late in life. In addition, he had been a member of the Mason’s Corinthian Lodge for 65 years and St. Alban’s Lodge for over 60 years.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his beloved daughters, Lynn Kline of Ashfield, Massachusetts, and Doris Bernardi of Wallingford. He was the proud grandfather of Erik Jasperson of Lyme, New Hampshire, Mathew Sherman of Conway, Massachusetts, and Captain Anthony J. Bernardi, USAF, stationed in Arizona. He is also survived by a nephew, Richard Greenleaf of Guilford. www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.
A private graveside service with military honors will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., in Alder Brook Cemetery, Boston St., Guilford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, PO Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492. The Guilford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit