April 17, 1939 – November 10, 2019
Dean Harlan Wallace, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 10, 2019 in Bryan, Texas.
A Memorial Service will be held 11am Friday, November 22nd, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in College Station, Texas.
Dean was born to Jesse and Millie Jack Wallace in the small community of Osage, Texas on April 17, 1939. After attending his first two years of school Lin a one-room schoolhouse in Osage, Dean went to school in Crawford, Texas, where he graduated from high school in 1957. While in high school, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He spent much of his early years working on the family farm.
After graduating, Dean attended Tarleton Junior College, where he majored in engineering. He then went on to the College of Optometry at the University of Houston where he graduated in 1964. It was at the U of H where he met Shirley Rogers and began a love that would last for 55 years. They were married in October of 1964. They were blessed with a son, Bradley Dean, in 1968.
After working in Waco, Big Spring, and Dallas, Dean and Shirley moved to Bryan in 1970 where Dean opened his own Optometry Office and where he practiced for over 30 years. Dean always said he spent the first 25 years of his life working to get off the farm and the next 25 years working to get back on it. He purchased a small ranch in Brazos County and for the rest of his working years he would work at the office all day then head out to his ranch to work. He loved being outdoors and especially loved having his son with him, and teaching him to hunt and fish.
After retiring from Optometry, Dean found a new avocation that involved training his Labrador retrievers to compete in hunt tests all over the state of Texas. It was a time when Dean and Shirley made many new friends and enjoyed traveling together. Dean’s other love was playing dominoes with the Turkey Creek Domino Club…a group that has played together for over 35 years. Dean also took up cooking and became well known for his famous chocolate pies and fudge that he would make at Christmas to give to friends.
More than anything, he loved having his grandchildren come to visit so he could take them out to the farm where they would ride on the tractor and catch fish in the pond. They brought him much joy as he taught them to love the outdoors.
Dean is survived by his wife, Shirley Wallace; son, Bradley Dean Wallace; two grandchildren, Morgan Wallace and Braden Dean Wallace; and his sister, Jessie Darden and her husband, Joe.
Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Rd., College Station, TX 77845 or Twin City Mission, 410 S. Randolph, Bryan, TX 77803.
Arrangements are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
Dear Shirley–Jimmie and I wish to express our condolence to you and your family in the loss of Dean. Blessings as you walk this difficult path without him.
My sister, Linda sent me the sad news.
Jimmie and Joan (Hudson) Roberts
Dear Joan,
Thank you so much for your sweet note. I want you to know that Dean still talked about you often when reminiscing about his youth. I had often hoped that we could meet sometime when you were here visiting Linda and that you could come by and say hi to Dean. I think you and I could have been good friends!
In his final days, Dean wished so much for Osage and even though he was unable to travel then, he still had a deep love in his heart for that part of his life.
Sorry I am so late in answering your note…..time has gotten away from me.
Sincerely, Shirley
Dear Shirley and family,
We bought our sweet Stogie boy from y’all. We were honored that y’all were his first parents. We will miss Dean. He was a great guy.
Charles and Judy Pugh
Shirley, I am so very sorry to hear of Dean passing. You and Dean have been a comfort during my recovery from my foot problem. While I was singing with the choir, I appreciated hearing Dean come and tell me that the choir sounded wonderful and he enjoyed our anthem. then it was a real joy to me to have you and Dean drop by my home to visit and give me a Holiday basket. You and Dean are a blessing to our Covenant church family, Shirley may God be with you during this time and I as well as Butch send our dee[dest condolences to you and your family. God Bless.
….Bobby Couch and the Couch family
So very sorry for your loss. Dr. Wallace was amazing. Even though I have not seen him in many years, I will always be grateful for his excellent care. To his family and friends, he will be missed. May God bless and help you though this special time.