Wallace David Driskell
1938-2009
OBITUARY
PINEY FLATS, Tenn.
– Wallace Driskell passed away Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.
He was born in Sheffield, Ala., and was retired. Wallace was involved in church and community activities, including the Buffalo Ruritan Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Cleburne Driskell and Ruth
Ponder Driskell; two sisters, Robin Ann Driskell and Alice Wynn Driskell;
and brother, James Daniel Driskell. Wallace is survived by his
loving wife, Katie Driskell; sons, William Eric Driskell of Aurora, Colo.,
and David Lynn Driskell and his wife Abby of Alabama; stepson, Ian
Blackburn of Knoxville, Tenn.; a daughter, Regetta Ruth Driskell; brother,
Paul Sidney Driskell and his wife Carole of Sheffield, Ala.; one
granddaughter, Madison Lynn Driskell; niece, Catherine Driskell White and
her husband Chris; and nephew, the Rev. Timothy Driskell.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2009,
from the Tri-Cities Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be
conducted at 2 p.m. in the Tri-Cities Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Dan
Theiben officiating. Burial will follow in the Tri-Cities Memory Gardens.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lynn Crussell, Sewell Mackins, Danny Blakley,
Rudy Burnett and Doc Malone.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Journeys End No
Kill Animal Society, 2541 Sullivan Gardens Parkway, Kingsport, TN 37660;
or to Wynn Wood Wildlife Rehab, 150 Cecil Estep Road, Elizabethton, TN
37643.
 |
January 27, 2009
I became Wally's business partner in 1978. we were the Carrier Air Conditioning Representatives covering parts of four states. Wally was so helpful when I started. We became a dynamic duo. We led the nation in market share for many years. Wally was so unique. He was a free spirit. He would call on Engineers and mechanical contractors in running shorts and a tank top. They all loved him! Wally was so smart. I was the brawn; he was the brains. We traveled all over. I even spent nights at his parents house in Georgia. Wally was one of the most frugal people I had ever seen; yet one of the most generous! He got much of that from his dad. His dad would use one razor blade for a year. When it got dull, he said he would just bare down harder. I worked with Wally until he retired. I remember that old corn cob pipe he use to smoke, and those VW Rabbitts he use to drive. You would not think Wally had a penney, but he was quite well to do. And he was the most generous;always wanting to help people in need. I had a lot of fun working with Wallly, and I am sad that he had to leave. I am so glad now he retired when he did. He and Katie have been great for each other. I might add that Katie was my ninth grade teacher in junior high school. Katie, I am sad that Wally is gone, but I will never forget him. If I can help in any way, let me know. |
| Ron Livesay (Kingsport,
TN)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
We all had nicknames when we were growing up around the High School I lived on Dover Ave about 6 blocks from Wallace. He was known as Squaw... Go Dogs!!!!!!!!! |
| Robert BUD Thrasher
(Tuscumbia, AL)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
I remember Wallace as one of
our most outstanding class members in high school. He was a kind
and intelligent person. May God comfort you and your family. Nancy Stewart King |
| Nancy King (Muscle
Shoals, AL)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
Katie, Eric & Rejetta I am so sorry to hear about Wally, he will be truely missed, until my husband became involved in the Ruritan it hadn't seen much of him. It is hard to believe that it has been over 20 years since Eric & I graduated from school but I can remeber riding my bike to there house during the summer and hanging out with Rejetta & Eric. |
| Jackie (Roe) Ferguson
(Piney Flats, TN)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
Wallace lived just up the hill from me when we were childhood friends. He will be missed. Please accept my deepest sympathies. |
| Jimmy Kimbrell
(Charleston, SC)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
I have a special memory of Wallace from 1954. The first time I ever played the piano for a quartet was for one that Wallace put together of young people to sing for a Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Associational event at First Baptist Church in Sheffield. The quartet sang "Hand In Hand With Jesus". This has been a treasured memory of mine from our youth. I am praying for the family at this time. God bless you, Mary Ann Lenz |
| Mary Ann (Byars) Lenz
(Muscle Shoals, AL)
|
| January 26, 2009 | |
|
Rejetta: I'm so sorry to hear of your Father's passing. You and your family are in my thoughts & prayers. Although we haven't seen each other in years...I still recall our GREAT summers on the lake. |
| Michelle (Williams)
Burrell (Bristol, TN)
|
| January 25, 2009 | |
|
Wallace was a quiet person who we could always depend on. God bless you in your loss. We will always remember him. He was so generous to our class. Frank and Peggy Bishop |
| Frank and Peggy Bishop
(Sheffield, AL)
|
| January 25, 2009 | |
|
A childhood companion I surely
miss. We grew up together, fought one another and fought others
together. Wallace was a wonderful example to me in a quiet,
thoughtful way. Perhaps it was because he lived next to the high
school that he took education more importantly than some of us. Of course this is not the end My youthful friend For now you have a new beginning In heaven with time never ending. |
| Buck Locke (Winchester,
MA)
|
| January 25, 2009 | |
|
I can't believe it's been 10 years since I last saw Wally. How truly saddened I am that he is gone. The majority of memories I have of my pre-teen and teen life involve those times spent with him. I remember those dark rimmed dorky glasses he wore, that he knew were dorky but didn't care, that old beat up red VW rabbit he taught me to change gears on, our many bike rides down State Street with the stupid orange flags he put on them so everyone could see us, the nights we stayed up late to watch Johnny Carson (he didn't care for Letterman) and play Carroms til our fingernails turned blue. He'd smoke that pipe and make me laugh til I cried. Wally exposed me to so many art and cultural things, like camping @ Black Mountain and learning how to contra dance, storytelling at Jonesborough Days, taking me to the Cabbage Patch Birthplace where Mr. Driskell lived, and the best trip ever-camping at Disney World during spring break my sophomore year. I loved to stand beside him at church so I could hear him sing. Wally was a second father to me and treated me as if I were his own. He taught me to love the outdoors, express myself freely, and squeeze the most out of a dollar! He impacted my life in so many ways, I wish I could have been given the opportunity to see him one last time. When the role is called up yonder, we'll be there! |
| Tommie Loudy
(Kingsport, TN)
|
|
January 25, 2009 May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. |
| larry hall (collierville,
TN)
|
| January 25, 2009 | |
|
We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to you at this time. Wallace was a wonderful example and encouragement to us all. |
| Class of 1956 Sheffield
High School (Sheffield, AL)
|
| January 25, 2009 | |
|
Sandra & I were extremely sorry to hear of Wallace's passing. You have our deepest and sincerest sympathy. May God give you peace and comfort at this time and in the future. You will be in our prayers. |
| Neil & Sandra
(Tuscumbia, AL)
|
| January 24, 2009 | |
|
I met Wally for the first time over 25 years ago. He stopped along the roadside and invited my wife Sandy and I to come see the new house he was building . He was so proud of what he was creating, a round house, which no one here had ever seen, and which caused most people in this rural community to wonder who this newcomer was.
But Wally never stopped building new things as long as I knew him. He took an old farm and turned it into an "Eden". He took pride in making small and big things into something beautiful. The "Eden" he left behind is a testament to his imagination and love of life. Of how the pictures in his mind became reality. He would work on projects, sometimes for months by himself. Patiently watching his dreams come true. He'd never brag, or say "Look what I did" It was just suddenly there.
|
| Lynn Crussell (Piney
Flats, TN)
|