A. W. Waller, Arrangements By: Dannel Funeral Home, Nov 29, 2008Sherman - 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.
He 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-great grandchildren; 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.

Hope Caldwell Waller went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 3, (2011) surrounded by her loved ones. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Trinity Lighthouse Church in Denison, Texas. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery.
Mrs. Waller was born on Dec. 24, 1937, in Paris, Texas. She was the youngest child of Vivian Miller Caldwell and Guy Stanley Caldwell, Jr. After graduating from Paris High School, she earned a B.S. degree in English and History at East Texas State University. Following college, she taught English at Poplar High School in Poplar, Montana, and later was a reference librarian in the Billings Public Library in Billings, Montana.
After returning to Texas, Hope earned a Master of Library Science from East Texas State University. She then worked as an elementary school librarian in Wichita Falls, Texas. On Aug. 9, 1968, she married A.W. Waller. During their 40-year marriage, Hope and A.W. touched the lives of their family, church and community with their spirit of service to others. Hope began a 31-year career as Director of the Sherman Public Library in 1968. During which time she earned a second Master of Library Science from Texas Woman's University. Hope's never-ending efforts to find and secure funds for the Sherman Public Library enabled the library to grow and meet the demands of a growing city.
During her tenure, the city built a new library facility and later expanded the facility by 3,000 square feet, adding a customer service department and an audio visual center. The library experienced exponential growth in circulation and formed the Bibliographic Association of Red River (BARR), which provided a fully integrated library system for four Grayson County libraries. Hope was voted the Northeast Texas Library System (NETLS) Employee of the Year. In honor of 25 years of service, the City of Sherman renamed the Library Community Room to the Hope Waller Community Room.
Hope served the community in various capacities. Her civic affiliations and organization services included past president of Sherman Business and Professional Women, past president of Altrusa Club, past president of Stratford Club and past president of Listeners Club, as well as a member of the International Women's Club. Hope was extremely involved at her church, Trinity Lighthouse. She served as a greeter, food server for the youth ministry, volunteer in the children's church and a board member in the women's ministry. She also served as the church coordinator to provide food for Reba's Ranch House.
Hope's Christian faith was the foundation of who she was. She demonstrated the love of Christ in her life every day. She was constantly thinking of ways to bring joy to those around her. Her love of baking was often the way she expressed her love for people. In fact, at fund raising events her desserts were famous for bringing in hundreds of dollars. Hope's outstanding character was demonstrated in her loyalty to all those in her life. She always greeted people with a warm welcome and made you feel as if you were the only person in the room. Hope was passionate about living life to the fullest and most enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Hope was preceded in death by her husband, A.W. Waller; parents, Vivian Miller Caldwell and Guy Stanley Caldwell, Jr.; brother, Courtney Caldwell; aunt, Hazel Satcher; cousin, Freddie Kay Pierce; and son-in-law, Darrell Burnett.
She is survived by her sister Sonya Buchanan and husband George of Sherman, Texas; daughter YuVonne Burnett of Denison, Texas; son Lamar Waller and wife Susan of Leonard, Texas; nephews Ivan Buchanan and wife Patty of Sherman, Texas, Tim Buchanan and wife Pam of Elbert, Colorado, and Christopher Caldwell and wife Tabatha of Sanford, North Carolina; sister-in-law Teenie Caldwell of Cameron, North Carolina; daughter-in-law Wilma Waller of Sherman, Texas; grandchildren David Waller and wife Kristina of Frisco, Texas, Becky Hartgraves and husband Fred of Garland, Texas, Tona Galindo of Sherman, Texas, Kurt Burnett and wife Audra of Denison, Texas, Charles Burnett and Debra Burnett; 16 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; 4 great nephews; 2 great nieces; 2 great-great nephews and 2 great-great nieces; and her dear lifetime friend Dr. Phyllis Mercer, who spent many hours caring for Hope during her hospital stay the past several months.
The family deeply appreciates the many years of care and friendship of Dr. John F. Harper, Dr. David Harper and Peter J. Kunkle P.A. of Texas Health Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Group.
Pallbearers are Justin Buchanan, Jonathan Buchanan, Kurt Burnett, Dustin Burden, Austin Burnett, Colten Noe, Benjamin Waller and Zac Hinton. Honorary Pallbearers are Ted Satcher, Rick Slakey, Jim Woods and Chuck Melugin.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Lighthouse Church, Denison, Texas or the Sherman Public Library.
Family visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 6, from 3-5pm at Waldo Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home.