Wallace Dean Gerst, age 88 of Carrollton, Texas passed away July 9, 2019. He was born March 3, 1931 in Dallas, TX to Karl and Emma Gerst. He married Wanda Holt on August 5, 1950 in Denton, TX at the Little Chapel in the Woods. He joined the USMC and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1952. He graduated from SMU in 1957 with a BBA degree in Accounting, Management, and Finance. He soon joined May Petroleum, Inc. and rose to become their Financial Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee. After 14 successful years at May Petroleum he enjoyed running the finance department at several other oil companies until his eventual retirement in 1987 when he became a financial consultant. He served as an Officer of the Petroleum Accountants Society for many years and was especially proud of his work with North Texas State University. He served as an Officer of the Garland Bass Club for many years and loved fishing with his family and friends and especially his long time fishing partner Reggie Riddle. He served on two grand juries and had a profound sense of moral duty. He loved to travel, fish, and drink scotch with his extended family and friends.
Survivors include his children, Mike Gerst and wife Teri, Barbara Bomgardner and husband Mike, and K. Clinton Gerst and wife Joanne; his niece, Dorothy-Marie Riddle whom he regarded as a sister and husband Reggie; grandchildren, Diane Ventresca and husband Zach, Stephanie Gerst, Allison Holt VanZandt and husband Dusty, Ivan Bomgardner and wife Leah, Charles Dodson, Kylie Gerst and fiance Jonathan Ruffalo, and Branson Gerst; great grandchildren, Alyssa and Mariah Caribardi; Emilia Bomgardner, Sadie and Shiloh VanZandt; numerous extended family and friends including P J Gerst, Robyn Best and husband Hollis, Sarah and Mason Best, Russell and Janna Riddle, Brock and Ryleigh Riddle, Patricia Ann DeMayo, and Robert Earl and Peggy Gerst. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brothers and sisters.
Memorial services will be 2:30 P.M., Sunday, July 21st, 2019 at Sparkman Funeral Home, 1029 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson, TX 75081 with reception to follow at Brookhaven Country Club.
Flowers are welcome and donations can be made to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, www.tsrhc.com
