Maxine Wallace, born May 9, 1936, to Allen and Vera Marcantel in Kinder, Louisiana, passed away on July 4, 2026, at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings, Louisiana.

She is survived by her loving husband, John Wallace, who was born in Poplarville, Mississippi, on January 10, 1936, and resides at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings, Louisiana; her daughter, Johna Rion, and husband, Richard, of Westlake, Louisiana; her grandson, Matthew Rion, and wife, Summer; her great-granddaughters, Olivia Katherine and Edith Maxine Rion; one sister, Linda Lormand of Kinder, Louisiana; nieces Carolyn Marcantel, Marilyn Puckett, and Debbie Harst, all of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Regina Sermon of Billings, Montana; nephew Raymond Harst of Lafayette, Louisiana; and a multitude of family and friends.

Maxine married Johnny, her high school sweetheart, on July 20. In just 12 days, they would celebrated 70 years of marriage. They were married in Virginia after Johnny joined the Army. As a young woman, she traveled to France to be with her husband, and they lived there for three years. During that time, their daughter, Johna, was born.

She worked for an A&P grocery store for a short time before becoming a full-time homemaker. She also helped her husband with bookkeeping for many years.

Her hobbies included sewing, which she learned from her great-grandmother, as well as embroidery and quilting. She was active in her church.

The love of Maxine's life was her husband, Johnny. She loved him with a love so deep that she left everything she had known on a farm in Kinder to travel halfway around the world to France. They loved to tell others about that season of their lives. In 1960, in Kinder, Louisiana, both Maxine and Johnny received the Holy Ghost at Brother Clark's church and began living for God and remaining faithful to His work.

Upon moving to Lake Charles, they decided to visit the Apostolic churches. After visiting the first one, Hodge Street UPC, they found their church home under Reverend M. D. Treece. There, they became part of the young married group, and their daughter, Johna, developed many friendships that remain strong today.

They helped build Apostolic Temple on Holly Hill Road, were part of two remodels, and later helped with the move to the present location on Prien Lake Road. Eventually, it became difficult for them to travel from Kinder to Lake Charles. That is when they began attending LeBlanc UPC under Pastor Gibson, where the church family welcomed them with love. Maxine loved this new place of worship, and even with her limited vision, she was able to be a part of all the activities, singing, and fun nights.

God ordered their footsteps throughout their lives, even to the point where they were both accepted into the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home. The family is grateful to the wonderful staff there, who have been nothing short of amazing.

One of Maxine's greatest blessing was caring for her only grandson, Matt. Throughout his formative years, Maxine invested in Matt in every way, allowing him to explore their farm. Raising livestock, working the land and making spaghetti with them shaped his entire life. He was Maxine's "little man," and that remains his nickname today.

Maxine enjoyed excellent health for most of her life. Only in the last two years did she begin to decline. In her final days, God gave her reassurance that heaven would be her eternal home. She lived a life faithful to Him.

She was loved by so many and will be greatly missed.

Family will receive friends Wednesday, July 8th, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. at Riley Smith and Sons Funeral Home 315 N. 14th St. Kinder, Louisiana. Pastor Alfred Gibson and Pastor Rick Treece will be officiating.

Interment will follow at Green Oak Cemetery Kinder, Louisiana.