William Barry Wallis

William Barry Wallis, of Sandy Springs, Ga and Highlands, NC passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at the age of 71 due to a post-surgical complication while in recovery at Piedmont Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Anne, his sons William Barry Wallis Jr. and John Brent Wallis (Christina), and his grandson Hayden Christopher Wallis, his sister Lee Anne Hearn, and his nieces and nephews Lauren Lovelady, McCalla Busman, Monica Wallis, Adam Wallis and Nathan Barton. He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Earline Wallis, and brother James Rodney Wallis. Barry was the first child blessed to Earline and Clarence Wallis of Mayfield, Kentucky, who instilled in Barry a strong sense of work ethic that inspired Barry to carry several paper routes on his bicycle as a very young boy. He continued his young endeavors by opening a company refurbishing and selling bicycles and, at the time, was the youngest person in The State of Kentucky to be issued a business license. Barry earned Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts of America, excelled scholastically, being the recipient of all accolades in his high school, including National Honor Society and “Mr. Mayfield High School”. Upon graduation he attended one of the top engineering schools in the nation, Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was initiated into Delta Tau Delta fraternity (eventually serving as President) and continued his stride for excellence and formed many lifelong friendships and bonds that he would carry forward with him as an active alumnus and contributor after his graduation in 1968. Barry financed his education as a Georgia Tech co-op student through employment at Stephenson and Associates, an Atlanta mechanical engineering company. He began his professional career with the same organization, helping to build the company to prominence while obtaining ownership interest. He eventually acquired sole control and subsequently established W.B. Wallis and Company. He was with his beloved company for almost 50 years. Throughout his long and successful career, Barry continued his role as a leader in various professional organizations, including The Mechanical Contractors Association of Georgia, for which he served as President three different years during his affiliation. In 2005, Barry and Anne purchased a vacation retreat in Highlands, NC where they enjoyed spending as much time as possible. Barry loved restoring his antique cars, traveling, Pilates, golf, volunteering and all things involving his alma mater, Georgia Tech. He cherished a multitude of friends and associates stemming from his association with Georgia Tech, Dunwoody Country Club, professional affiliations, his home in Highlands, NC, and the many traveling companions with whom he and Anne shared numerous excursions all over the world. Barry was a strong, loving and thoughtful figure and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. The family will welcome visitors on Thursday, June 16th between six and eight o’clock in the evening at H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd. NE., Sandy Springs, Ga. 30338. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 17th at one o’clock in the afternoon at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Drive, Sandy Springs, Ga. 30328. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer for contributions be made in Barry’s memory to Roll Call, The Georgia Tech Annual Fund, c/o The Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30308; or St. Jude The Apostle Church, at the above address; or The Circle for Children, directed to Mrs. Danielle Houret-Lam, 2993 Andrews Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30305; or Highlands Playhouse, P.O. Box 896, Highlands, NC 28741.