Wayne Terrell

Wayne was born in Magnolia, Arkansas, April 21, 1934. His father’s family was from Mount Prospect, south of Stephens, Arkansas. When he was young, his family moved to Texarkana, where in 1952 he graduated from Arkansas High School. During the Korean war, Wayne volunteered for military service, serving in the Army’s 11th and 82nd Airborne divisions, as a paratrooper/drill instructor. He was married for 58 years to the love of his life, Wanda Gail Peeler, whom he met at Dot’s Roller Rink in Spring Lake Park. After Iiving in Columbus, Georgia, where he had the first of four children, Wayne and Gail moved back to Texarkana where he was employed by Day and Zimmerman at the Red River Army Depot, starting as a runner for the machine shop, advancing to line engineer, before becoming chief draftsman. Going to school at night, he graduated with a Bachelors in Business degree from Southern State College. He founded Design Drafting Services, Terco and Regal Construction company, building residential homes, commercial metal buildings and a number of the stores in Central Mall. In retirement, he founded “Unlockit”, a 24/7 business devoted to helping people locked out of their cars/homes. He would probably still be running around the Texarkana metroplex in his Lincoln Continental town car, if not for a stroke that required him to set aside his unlocking tools/keys. While he lived in Texarkana, he was a long-time member of County Avenue and Rose Hill Baptist churches. He eventually moved to Harrison, Arkansas where he lived with his youngest daughter, before returning to Texarkana to be closer to his growing number of great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Earl Terrell and Vona Terrell, his sister, Hazel Swinney and his beloved wife Gail.

He is survived by sons and daughters-in-laws, Michael Wayne Terrell and Teresa Terrell of Texarkana, Texas and Edward Lynn Terrell and Elaine Terrell of Dickinson, Texas; daughters Venetia Williams of Queen City, Texas and Angela Bishop of Harrison, Arkansas; eight grandchildren ,James Rochelle, Michael Terrell, Brandy Rochelle, Amber Spivey, Megan Jones, Ryan Bishop, Rebecca Bishop and Katherine Terrell and nine great grandchildren; Tristen, Bret, Corbin, Cooper, Easton, Becket, Carter, London and Mila.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at East Funeral Home-Moores Lane.

Following the visitation the funeral service will be at 3:00 PM at East Funeral Home-Moores Lane Chapel with Dr. Roger Copeland officiating.

Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eastfuneralhomes.com for the Terrell family.