Ronald Elray Wallis was born on February 20, 1930, in Felsenthal, Arkansas, to Bert Eugene and Odessa Ely Wallis and passed away on January 24, 2024, at his home after a brief illness. The family moved around a lot when he was growing up, but they eventually settled in Monticello and he graduated from Drew Central High School in 1948. There he met his future wife, Bethel White, who he married on November 22, 1951, and who predeceased him on February 25, 2008. He graduated from Arkansas A&M (now UAM) with a business degree in 1959 through the use of the G.I. bill, and in 1960 went to work as an accountant with the Crossett Company which soon thereafter became Georgia Pacific, until his retirement in January 1989. He made many friends while at G.P. who he stayed in touch with for these 35 years. The Friday KFC lunch bunch provided him lots of laughs and he remembered those days fondly. He lived an active life in retirement serving in volunteer roles well into his eighties with the Union Ridge Cemetery and the Lacey-Ladelle Water Board, was a founding member (and firefighter) of the Lacey-Ladelle-Prairie Grove Fire Departments, helped build the Prairie Grove Community Building, and did numerous wood-working projects for his family.
He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, his siblings and their spouses, brother James Wallis (Lois Jones Wright), brother Gene Wallis (Betty), and sister Mildred Wallick McGinnis (Mike) and his daughter-in-law Audrey Wallis. He is survived by his three children, Bert Wallis (Sherry) of Monticello, AR, Carol Stephenson (Bob) of El Dorado, AR and Bill Wallis (Linda) of Bastrop, LA, three grandchildren, Ray Wallis (Kim), Keith Wallis, and Melinda Adair (Scott), five great-grandchildren, Joel, Sam, Jackson, Alyssa and Keith; and many nieces, nephews and a few cousins.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kay Carpenter officiating. There will be a visitation from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home. Burial will be in Union Ridge Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Union Ridge Cemetery Association, Yvonne Shelton 467 Old Dermott Road Monticello, AR 71655 or the charity of your choice. You can sign his guest registry on this website.
The family wishes to thank everyone who has befriended, called, or spent time with him through the years. He enjoyed those visits more than you know.
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