William "Bill" Wallis' Obituary
Bill Wallis was born on July 19,1927, in Richardson, Texas, in the house that once stood at 704 South Greenville Avenue. Like his father and grandfather, Bill was officially named William Clinton Wallis and carried the Jr. suffix. But he was known as “Billy” until he joined the Navy,
and “Bill” ever after. He was the third child and only son of Clint and Winnie Wallis. Bill’s dad ran the Huguely Cotton Gin for several years and later worked 35 years as the postmaster in Richardson. Bill’s mother, Winnie, was the great granddaughter of John Floyd, an early settler
from Kentucky, and the family for whom Floyd Road in Dallas is named.
After first grade, the rest of Bill’s early education took place in the same schoolhouse now used as the administration building for Richardson ISD. He loved animals, excelled in Ag class, and aspired to be a veterinarian. When he realized that desire was out of reach, his focus shifted to business instead. He finished a year at North Texas State Teachers College in Denton before the Navy called. Soon after boot camp, VJ Day arrived, and then the war was over. Bill often said, “The Navy was the best thing that happened to me,” and never tired of telling stories of his Navy days. For a small town boy who “never went anywhere,” the Navy provided camaraderie, adventure, and travel to locations such as Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, Panama, Cuba, and the East coast.
After his two years of service, armed with GI Bill money, Bill returned to Denton to continue his degree. There he met Pat Mackoy of Whitesboro at a church picnic. The attraction was mutual and immediate. Pat only attended North Texas one year before moving to Dallas to work, but their relationship continued with daily letters and dating. On the weekends, Bill would hitchhike home to see Pat. His brother-in-law, Milton Malcik, would lend Bill his car, an act of kindness he never forgot. Bill finished his degree in Business Administration in May 1949, and married Pat in October. They had two sons, Mark and Terry, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. They celebrated 71 anniversaries.
Bill’s business career took him into the new world of credit cards. He worked in the Texaco wholesale credit card department for 17 years and then was hired by Mercantile Bank to manage their new “Master Charge,” later known as Master Card. He retired from Mercantile Bank after 17 years, and enjoyed one year of retirement before a new opportunity appeared. He was recruited as a consultant for another start up credit card company called Discover Card. That “temporary” opportunity lasted ten and a half years. It should be noted that Bill accumulated a vast storehouse of Discover Card swag, most of which is still extant.
From the time Bill was a child, he loved to build things. Among many other projects, he built a chicken house and a hog pen. No pictures or printed plans were required; he simply figured it out in his head. During his retirement he enjoyed many building projects including candy houses, gingerbread houses and doll houses. Some of his creations were auctioned at fundraisers and some were gifts. All of his grandchildren have wonderful memories of making candy houses with Granddad Bill.
Bill had a deep faith in God and was devoted to his Lord. The church picnic that brought Bill and Pat together was a seed that bloomed into a lifetime of partnership of service to Christ and His church. Bill was a deacon at the Richardson East Church of Christ and later an elder at the
Waterview Church of Christ. Bill and Pat attended the Prestoncrest Church of Christ in their later years. In each congregation they served faithfully in Bible class teaching, numerous mission trips, and in FriendsSpeak.
Bill and Pat spent their last few years at Highland Springs Senior Living Center where they made many friends. As their health declined, the staff there provided excellent care, with one exception. Bill often complained the cooks there never could make good chili. Bill left his 94 year old body behind on September 3, 2021, leaving a lasting legacy of love and faithfulness.
Bill’s wife, Pat, preceded him in death in January 2021. He is survived by his sons: Mark and wife Susan of Lone Tree, CO; Terry and wife Donna of Lewisville, TX; grandchildren: Amy Wiley, Katy Byrne, Tressa Maddux, Clint Wallis, Jackson Wallis, and Sara Smith; great grandchildren: Brett Wiley, Anna Kate Wiley, Taylor Byrne, Judah Maddux, Parker Wallis, and Sloane Wallis; a sister, JoAnn Umphress and her husband Sheridan of Weatherford, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
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