Funk, 85, is a former publisher of the Anacortes American, as well as two weeklies on Whidbey Island.
Funk told Keith Vance, who wrote a profile of him for the UW communications department "Every week, when I heard the presses start, it was a new week, a new exciting week, and I never lost that thrill."
Funk wrote about the period when he and a partner ran the Anacortes American: "One could raise a question about our objectivity because these are the years in which we were involved civically, politically and personally, as were others with whom we worked and warred over issues that left a strong mark on the Anacortes that emerged in the latter half of the century."
Steve Berentson, who owns a PR business in Anacortes, got his start working for Funk at the Whidbey News-Times in 1976 and said "The job with Wallie is key to everything I've done in my career.”
Funk was quite a photographer. too, and has donated his considerable photo collection to the Anacortes Museum.
Wallie has been married to Mary Anne since 1954. They have two sons, Carl and Mark, and two grandchildren, Casey and Charley.
Funk will be inducted into the UW communication department Hall of Fame on October 23.