Louis E. Waller

Louis Edward Waller, 80 of Washington, died Friday, February 20, 2009, in the Washington Hospital. He was born September 10, 1928, in Marianna, a son of Louis T. and Hattie Davis Waller. Mr. Waller was a graduate of Washington High School. He attended Carlisle Business School and the University of Pittsburgh and received an associate’s degree from Dean Tech. In 1948, Mr. Waller was honorably discharged from the United States Army, where he served as administrator of company funds to all military units of Pennsylvania. On July 10, 1954, he married Shirley James of Buffalo, New York, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Louis (Anne) Waller of Canonsburg; two daughters, Phyllis Waller of Washington and Lorraine (Vince) Waller-Whitehead of Raleigh, North Carolina; eight grandchildren, Danielle Drew, Kaitlyn Oakley, Jordan Drew, Lauren Waller, Taylor Anne Waller, Elliott Waller, Lindsey Whitehead and Logan Whitehead; and many aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Deceased are two sisters, Helen Dillard and Dorothy Kelley. Before founding Waller Corporation in 1986, Mr. Waller was president of McAnallen Corporation (1963-1986), worked in estimating and sales of steel fabricated products for Plasteel Products Corporation (1953 – 1963), and was a draftsman for Steel City Engineering Company (1950 – 1953). He was a member and former deacon and trustee of Nazareth Baptist Church. In 1964, he was the recipient of the Layman of the Year Award presented by the church. Mr. Waller was the author of the series “The American Negro,” which was published by the Observer-Reporter. Mr. Waller was extensively involved in business, community and civic affairs. He was past president of Master Builder’s Association of Western Pennsylvania, president of Pittsburgh National Association of Minority Contractors—Black Contractors Association, co-chairman of the Alliance for Development Construction Contractors, national director of the Associated General Contractors Association of America, past president of Board of Governors—General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania and former director of Construction Advancement Program of Western Pennsylvania. His community and civic affiliations included being past chairman of the board of trustees of The Washington Hospital; chairman of the board of directors of Washington Federal Savings Bank; member and past president of the board of managers of the Washington Cemetery; chairman and CEO of Interstate Contractors Supply Company; vice chairman board of trustees of Waynesburg College; past member of Hospital Trustee Association of Pennsylvania; chairman of the Washington County Board of Assessment Appeals; vice president of Washington Council on Economic Development; Member of the ABDDE Scholarship Fund; Member of the Board of State Conference of NAACP; past director of Washington Hospital Foundation; vice chairman of Washington County Community Foundation; Honorary of Allegheny Trail Council – Boy Scouts of America; Director of Washington County Industrial Development Corporation; member of the executive committee of the Washington Branch of the NAACP; chairman of Washington Hospital Centennial Celebration and director of the Institute for Healthy Communities. Mr. Waller had also been an advisor to Junior Achievement; president of Kiwanis Club of Washington; vice president of Junior Chamber of Commerce of Washington; director of YMCA of Washington County; advisory committee member of the Salvation Army; member of the boards of directors for Southwest Regional Planning Commission, the Washington County Planning Commission, the Wesley Institute and Hospice Association of Washington; chairman of the Washington Human Relations Commission; vice president of the Boys’ Home in Oakdale; president of Wesley Town, Inc.; member of the board of LeMoyne Community Center; Director of Family Service Agency; president of Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches; Master of Washington Lodge 77 F & AM; President of Washington NAACP; president of Washington County United Way; president of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania; board member of Black Contractors Association; board member of PNC Bank Urban Advisory Board; chairman (1977) Capital Fund Drive for the YWCA; chairman (1978) Friends of Scouting- Boy Scouts of America; Chairman (1979) of membership- YMCA; chairman (1982) Citizens Library Fund Drive; chairman (1973-1976) United Way Campaign; vice chairman (1986) Washington Hospital Capital Campaign; leader (1986) Presbyterian Association on Aging Capital Campaign; chairman (1986, 1987) Heart Association Capital Campaign for Washington County; chairman (1996) Washington Park Capital Campaign; and chairman (1997) Friends of Joan Griffin Fund. In 1965, Mr. Waller was selected as one of the most outstanding young men of America by the National Jaycees and was the recipient of the Human Rights Award given by the Washington NAACP. Other awards include the 2000 Division Leader (1966, 1967, 1968) of the United Way Campaign of Washington County; 1969 recipient, “Man of The Year” Award given by Washington Jaycees; “Brace for Ace” Award presented by the Washington County Easter Seals Society; the T.S. Fitch Pioneer Award (1983); Black Trailblazer Award (1993) presented by Renaissance Publications; and a silver medal (1995) from the Sons of the American Revolution. In 1983, Mr. Waller was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Waynesburg College. He is the only minority in the 150-year history of Waynesburg College to receive an honorary doctorate degree. At the time of his death, Mr. Waller was serving as chairman of Washington County Board of Real Estate Appeals; vice chairman of Waynesburg College Trustees; vice chairman of Washington County Council of Economic Development; president of Washington County Community Foundation; president of Minority Contractors Association – Black Contractors Association and vice chairman of Washington County Cemetery. Friends will be received 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 24th, in Nazareth Baptist Church, 123 North Lincoln Street, Washington, with Rev. Charles Wyatt officiating. Entombment will follow in Washington Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Louis E. Waller Leadership Fund, Washington County Community Foundation, 331 South Main Street, Washington PA 15301. (Everyone attending the funeral service is asked to meet at the church.)