Bass Campbell Wallace

Bass Campbell Wallace died peacefully on the 12th of September 2012 as a result of complications from amyloidosis. He was fortunate to spend his last days at his home of 45 years, surrounded by his family and devoted caregivers, enjoying the views of his furred and feathered friends in his beautiful back yard.

Bass was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce Campbell Wallace and Ame Bass Smith, and the love of his life, his wife, Julia Picton Wallace. He is survived by his daughter Ellen and her partner Mollie Hammonds, his sons Bass Jr. and his wife Jackie and their daughters Katelyn and Sydney, and David and his wife Cindy and their sons Rivers and Reece, his brother Bruce and Bruce’s wife Carolyn, his sisters-in-law Alice Craig and Grace Wise, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

On the 22nd of May 1931, during the heart of the Great Depression, Bass was born in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, minutes before his identical twin brother Bruce. Bass and Bruce attended Montrose Elementary School and Lanier Junior High School (where Bass first met Julia). When the twins were 12, their father tragically died of a stroke and their mother went to work teaching school. After graduating from Lanier, the twins attended the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, on scholarships, which they repaid in full working various jobs. During his senior year there, Bass was Co-Captain of the track team and played on the undefeated football team. After graduation, Bass and Bruce returned to Houston where they attended the Rice Institute (now Rice University). After graduation from Rice in 1953, with recognition as an Outstanding Senior and a recipient of the Cameron Service Award, Bass attended the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. After earning his law degree and passing the bar exam in 1956, Bass went to work at the law firm of Andrews, Kurth, Campbell & Bradley. Bass practiced law his entire career there, becoming a partner in 1966 and retiring in 1987. He was a well-respected trial lawyer, who had many friends at Andrews & Kurth. After his retirement, he continued to provide free legal advice to his family and friends, always with the disclaimer that free legal advice is generally worth what you pay for it.

Retiring at a relatively young age and in good health, Bass was able to devote the remaining 25 years of his life to the people and causes that were most important to him. A frugal man of simple tastes, Bass’ greatest love was being around his family, whether at home or travelling. For sixteen consecutive years, Pop (as he was affectionately known to his children and grandchildren) and his beloved Julia organized summer trips for their entire Wallace clan, usually to destinations with cooler weather and good food. Bass was also extremely fortunate to enjoy friendships from his early childhood through law school and his professional life, as well as new friendships with kindred spirits. In the years after Julia’s death in 2003, he greatly enjoyed the companionship and affection of Mary Jane Sterbanz, with whom he had worked years before at Andrews & Kurth.

Pop was generous not only with his family and friends, but also with the causes that were important to him. He and Bruce endowed a financial aid student scholarship at Phillips Academy in honor of their mother. Pop also supported efforts to strengthen residential zoning and preserve green space in Houston. He fought numerous battles to preserve his neighborhood against unwanted development and served on the Board of The Park People, receiving its Grass Roots Award in 1998. He donated a horticultural lecture series and a garden in memory of his wife after her tragic death from cancer in 2003. Most recently, he supported efforts to restore Memorial Park after the terrible drought of 2011.

The family offers special thanks to the caregivers of Liz’ Angel of Care Staffing, who provided tender, loving care and comfort in his last days, as well as to the devoted doctors, nurses and aides at the Medical Clinic of Houston, Hillcroft Dialysis, St. Luke’s Hospital, Specialty Select Hospital, and Houston Hospice who cared for him through his difficult illness.

A memorial service is to be conducted later this month, on Saturday, the 29th of September, at eleven o’clock in the morning at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Douglas W. Richnow, Senior Associate Rector, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

Serving as honorary pallbearers during the service are Jim Baker, Frank Davis, Hal DeMoss, Al Ebert, Peter Grant, Dennis Hamill, Clint Morse, Bob Strawn, Bob Weatherall, and Henry Wilde.

At a later time, the family is to gather for a private inurnment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Memorial Park Conservancy, 6501 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX, 77007; The Church of St. John the Divine (for the benefit of The Julia Garden), 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX, 77019; or to the Garden Club of Houston (for the benefit of the Julia Wallace Lecture Series), 4212 San Felipe Rd., No. 486, Houston, TX, 77027.