A.W. Waller

1923 - 2008

Surrounded by his loving wife of more than 40 years, Hope, and his family, Ansel Wade Waller went to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Trinity Lighthouse Church in Denison. Pastor Raymond England will officiate. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery.
Pastor James Keaton will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home.
Mr. Waller was born May 2, 1923 in Waynesboro, Miss. He was the fifth of 11 children of Charles Pinkney Waller and Annie Jones Waller. The Waller family emphasized the significance of God and family in one's life. A. W. accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior on Feb. 26, 1939. After being ordained as an Assemblies of God minister in September 1945, he went on to serve as a pastor of several churches in Mississippi and Texas for 19 years. He established First Assembly of God Church in Water Valley, Miss., where he personally constructed the church and the parsonage. In 1951, he and his family moved to pastor in Atlanta, Texas. The last church he served was First Assembly of God in Denison.
After leaving full-time ministry, he established Waller Insurance Agency and served the Grayson County area for more than 50 years. He once led the Southwest Division of Mutual of Omaha in sales. In January 1987, he was named top representative for United American and his agency was listed as one of the top 10 independent agencies. The success of his business was born out of the attention given to each individual. Every person felt he had their personal interests at heart, and he did.
Mr. Waller continued to serve his church in a lay capacity at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Sherman for 33 years. He was also one of the organizing members of Harvest Time in Sherman. For the past 14 years he was an active member of Trinity Lighthouse Church in Denison. He treasured his church family and considered it an honor to have Raymond England as his pastor and friend. A. W. and Hope were blessed by the many prayers and gestures of love by the church staff.
A.W. was truly a man after God's own heart. His unconditional love and servant's heart touched all he met. His love for life was reflected in his love for gardening. He loved to spend time working, nurturing, and growing vegetables and fruits and his family enjoyed time around the dinner table and the fellowship that accompanied.
A. W. cherished those times he and Hope spent with their family. Hope was his "girl" and he was most fulfilled by taking care of her and sharing his life with her. He was devoted to his children and his love for them was unconditional. He had the face of a compassionate heavenly father to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was a faithful friend to his brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. He always took the time upon every encounter to tell his family members how much he loved them. From his daughter and son to the youngest of the great-great grandchildren, there was never a doubt in their minds that they were loved by "Pap". He commented time after time in his final days, "I love my family". That legacy of love will long outlast those he leaves behind.
A.W. was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Lavell Barnett; and five brothers, Van Waller, Joe Waller, Neolan Waller, Grady Waller and Don L. Waller.
His is survived by his wife Hope, daughter Yuvonne Burnett and husband Darrell of Denison; son Lamar Waller and wife Susan of Leonard; daughter-in-law, Wilma Waller of Sherman; grandchildren, Kurt Burnett and wife Audra; Charles Burnett; Debra Burnett; David Waller; Becky Hartgraves and husband Fred and Tona Galindo; 14 great-grandchildren and nine great-greatgrandchildren; brothers, Durward Waller and wife Arla of Sherman and Dewey Waller of Citronelle, Ala.; sisters, Lettie V. Williams and Annie Lou Dearman of Waynesboro, Miss.; sister-in-law Sonya Buchanan and husband George of Sherman; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family also acknowledges his dear friends Dr. Phyllis Mercer; Rick and Vickie Slakey and Chuck and Carol Melugin. We deeply appreciate the care of his cardiologist, Dr. John Harper of Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.
Pallbearers will be David Waller, Kurt Burnett, Fred Hartgraves, Ivan Buchanan, Rick Slakey, Chuck Melugin and great-grandsons Dustin Burden, Austin Burnett, Beemer Waller.