Deane Wallace

Deane Thomas Wallace passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, January 22, with his daughter Jacquie and sister Susie at his bedside.  He was 66.

Deane, dubbed “Thor” by his family, was born, raised and lived his entire adult life in Little Rock. The president of his senior class, and Student Body President, he was a proud alum of Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys, where he excelled not only in athletics as a starting defensive tackle and place kicker for the Rockets, but more importantly in academics.  Deane graduated in 1973 as valedictorian.  Deane maintained close ties with Catholic High School for nearly 50 more years, participating in virtually any event benefiting the school and living the life lessons taught by Father George Tribou and other instructors.

After graduating from high school, Deane attended the University of Dallas where he entertained thoughts of entering the priesthood.  Ultimately he elected not to, but remained a devout, faithful and practicing Catholic throughout his life, active in his parishes, whether it be Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, Christ the King Catholic Church, or Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.  Epitomizing his enduring faith was a conversation he had with a family member just days before his death.  When mentioned that he would soon be seeing his parents in Heaven, Deane quickly added, “and Jesus!”

Deane had the same academic success at the University of Dallas as he did at Catholic High School, graduating summa cum laude in 1977.  He returned home to Little Rock where he began a 40-year career at AFCO Steel and its successor, W&W / AFCO Steel.  Deane worked his way up the ranks, eventually ascending to the position of Senior Vice President of Bridge Sales and Estimating. Deane’s job was to bid steel for bridge construction projects throughout the Mid-South and Midwest, and it was a job he did exceptionally well.  His legacy lives on in such bridges as, just to name a few, Christopher S. Bond Bridge (Kansas City, MO), Big Rock Interchange (Little Rock), and the US 82 Mississippi River Bridge (Greenville, MS).

Deane earned not only the respect, but also the genuine affection of his co-workers, customers and even competitors.  He developed life-long friendships which extended beyond the office.  Deane was loyal to his friends and his employer, and his loyalty was fully reciprocated.  Deane suffered a life-altering and physically debilitating stroke in December 2015.  The outpouring of affection and respect culminated at W&W / AFCO Steel’s retirement dinner for Deane, a celebration of his career highlighted by story after story of his mentorship, expectations of himself and others, and commitment to the success of his company and those working with and under him.

Deane lived life large.  Whatever he did, he did passionately, whether it was duck hunting, fishing, golfing, wine tasting, entertaining, tailgating, cooking, grilling, gardening, and cheering on his three favorite teams:  the Arkansas Razorbacks (any sport), Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Cardinals.  With Deane, you never had a doubt where he stood on a topic.  A Reagan conservative on social and economic issues, he knew his facts before expressing a view, was not shy to share them, and if you wished to debate him, you needed to be equally well-versed.   Likewise, there was no questioning when Deane was amused.  His laugh would begin in the pit of his stomach, rumble upward, and when it finally left his mouth, it would shake the walls with Deane rocking back and forth, often times with tears rolling down his face.

Deane was somewhat of a perfectionist – o.k., he was a perfectionist – and at times could come across as overly critical, demanding and gruff.  But beneath that exterior was a heart of gold and a giving nature.  Not only did he religiously tithe to the Catholic Church, but he also selflessly and most times anonymously supported a number of institutions and individuals, primarily in the area of Catholic education.

Although his stroke triggered the physical ailments that eventually led to his death, Deane’s brain never faltered, not once.  He held clear memories of events that occurred not only a week or month earlier, but back to his childhood.  He remained able to recite poetry, quote the Classics, and fluently speak the Latin he learned in high school.

Deane was particular about his likes and dislikes, and what he liked, he liked.  Case in point.  Although he had perfectly fine clothing stores within 10 minutes of his home with a wide array of belts in their inventory, Deane would travel 30-40 miles out of his way to buy his belts. In and of itself that might not be too odd.  However, Deane bought his belts at a tractor supply store, not your usual haberdashery.

The person who brought the most joy to Deane’s life was his daughter, Jacquie.  Deane gave Jacquie a nickname that stuck, “Jacquita Petita Margarita Rosarita”, which he uttered anytime in Jacquie’s life when he was bursting with pride for her.   Deane surrounded Jacquie with song.  He awakened her in the mornings by singing to her.  They sang together in the car to numerous musicals and they enjoyed going to every concert they could attend together.  Whether it was serving as “Chief Growling Bear” for “Smiling Eyes” in their Indian Princess troop, taking her fishing and hunting, walking the yard every day together while he smoked his cigar, raking huge leaf piles before pulling her through them in a wagon, or engaging in water hose wars, Deane was always finding activities to entertain her.  Deane loved celebrating Jacquie’s birthdays but they were not the only days when Jacquie’s friends would descend upon the “fun” house.  As Jacquie grew up, they became great shopping buddies often making trips to the outlet malls in Branson.

Deane was pre-deceased by his parents, Frances Russell Wallace and Dr. Deane D. Wallace and his brother, Scott Eugene Wallace.  In addition to daughter Jacqueline Wallace Montelongo and her husband Matt of Little Rock, Deane is survived by Jason Deane Knapp and wife Nicole of Conway, brother Michael Russell Wallace and wife Carol of Little Rock, sister Kate Wallace Smith of Malvern, Susie Wallace Lowther and husband Ed of Little Rock, and numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205.  Visitation will be held at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home on Friday, January 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a Rosary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 29, at 12:30 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. A Celebration of Deane’s Life will be held at Pleasant Valley Country Club, 1 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212, immediately following Deane’s Funeral. All are welcome to attend.

Memorials may be given to the Winston Penn Wardlaw Memorial Scholarship Fund at Catholic High School, 6300 Father Tribou Drive, Little Rock, AR. 72205.

The family requests that everyone wear a mask as we celebrate Deane’s life.