Albert Raymond Waller

Albert graduated from Shawnee High School with the Class of 1964. Afterward, he beat the draft by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. During his four years in the Marines he served 2 tours in Viet Nam. As he frequently stated, he served in Viet Nam for “1 year, 1 month, and 11 days, but who was counting.”

After returning to Oklahoma, he began a 30-year career at Tinker Air Force Base, during which, he attended night school and eventually graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Management. While at Tinker, he worked at every level of employment beginning at the entry position of aircraft jet engine mechanic’s helper and retired as the Civilian Chief of the Propulsion Division with supervision of over 3300 employees. He received numerous performance awards and was the president of the Tinker Federal Manager’s Assoc. for two years and FMA national zone president twice. More importantly, he made many lifelong friendships there that he greatly valued.

Other activities and organizations in which he participated were the Tinker Managers Assoc., Oklahoma State University Alumni Assoc., and B.P.O.E./Elks Lodge. He delighted in coaching T-ball teams for each of his 3 children for a total of 6 years and attending their activities during their school years.

At age 35, Albert was baptized along with his oldest son, Chris, on Easter Sunday, 1981, at Liberty Baptist Church. His faith in God was very important to him and he relied on that heavily as his health began to fail while still trying to get the kids raised. At the time of Albert’s death he was a member of Grace Independent Baptist Church of Shawnee.

Albert married Patsy Ann Rountree on Feb. 2, 1973. They would have celebrated 45 years together this coming Feb. Albert was well known for his sense of humor, even in the worst of times. No doubt this helped contribute to a long marriage. He always said he hoped he would be laughing when he took his last breath.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Bob Waller, Kenneth Waller, and Jasper “Jack” Keel.

He is survived by his wife Patsy, of the home; 3 children, Chris and wife, Angie, of Overland Park, KS, Charlie and wife, Christy, of Yukon, OK, and Becky Thomas of Frisco, TX. He dearly loved his 5 grandchildren: Andrew Waller, Barrett Waller, Danni Waller, Zach Waller, and Reese Thomas. Surviving siblings are sister, Betty Stephens of Pointblank, TX, brother, Bill and Edna Keel, of Dalhart, TX, and brother, Preston Keel and wife of AR., and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Grace House, a ministry of Grace Church, P.O. Box 126, Shawnee 74802. Funeral Service is 2:00 pm, Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Temple Baptist Church, Shawnee.