Walter Garland "Wally" Steele III

BANNER ELK, N.C. – Walter Garland "Wally" Steele III, 38, died on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, at Johnson City Medical Center.
He was born in Bristol Tennessee and graduated from Virginia High School. He attended Lees-McRae College, received his associate degree from Caldwell Community College and later attended Appalachian State University. He was an Eagle Scout and a member of State Street United Methodist Church. He was a talented artist, sculptor, history buff and collector.
Survivors include his mother, Anne Griffith Steele; his sisters, Mandi Dennis, her husband Mark and their children, Ellie, Sam and Gabby, and Millie Anne VanDevender, her husband Brent and their son, Abraham; his paternal grandmother, Pauline Steele; his maternal grandparents, Carl and LaNelle Griffith; his beloved, Serena Crawford and her son, Austin; numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins; and his faithful companions, Achilles and Monkey.
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Garland "Wink" Steele Jr., and his paternal grandfather, Walter Garland Steele.
The funeral service will be conducted at 5:30 Saturday evening at State Street United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Reed Shell and the Rev. Sharon Wright officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service and at any time at the home. The committal service and interment will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Mountain View Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Justin Scruggs, Casey Scruggs, Ryan Wolfe, Adam Wolfe, Emmalea Griffith and Bill Griffith.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Watauga County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607.
Condolences and memories may be shared and viewed by visiting www.oakley-cook.com.
Mr. Steele and his family are in the care of OakleyCook Funeral Home.