Fred was born in Mount Vernon, Ind., on March 16, 1913, to Ulysses S., who died in 1974, and Savannah (Pippin) Waller, who died in 1936. He was born on the same street in Mount Vernon, where he lived all of his life until he moved to Cloverleaf Apartments in 2001. He was admitted to Mount Vernon Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in November 2003, because of complications of Alzheimer's.
Fred worked for Gronemeier's Hardware Store as a young man for eight years, while he ran his own shop. He owned and operated Waller's Radio and TV Repair Service most of his adult life. He was one of the first radio repairmen in the area. People from all over the Tri-State and as far away as Tennessee, and North Carolina, relied on his service and expertise in the early days of radio. Musical groups including, Sons of the Pioneers (Festus of Gunsmoke was lead singer) and Boots Randolph, would make special trips to have their equipment repaired and updated while traveling through the area.
Fred was a lifelong member of Bethel AME Church in Mount Vernon, where he served as a Steward and Lay Reader until his health failed. He was a board member of the Mount Vernon Thrift Shop for many years, and was a former member of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the citizens of Mount Vernon and presented an award by Mayor Higgins for outstanding citizenship during Black History Month in 2000. He was tested via Morris Code in 1936 for certification as a Ham Radio operator with the well-known call letters W9MLL.
Fred attended Booker T. Washington School in Mount Vernon and then commuted to Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, in order to receive his high school diploma in 1931.
He was a well-known and respected citizen of Mount Vernon and broke many racial barriers in Posey County. His motto was to " know a little bit about a little of everything." There have been numerous articles written about him in area newspapers, Posey County books and a story written by his grandson, Jeffrey, on the Internet about how proud he was of his grandfather's accomplishments as an African-American featuring a picture of the hand made radio he built as a young teenager beginning in 1928. He was respected and well liked by all who knew him, a true gentleman.
He was married to Helen M. (Cole) Waller, June 6, 1936. She died on his birthday March 16, 1986. He is preceded in death by a sister, Alda "Ben" (Waller) Woolridge, in 1985, brothers, Lales Waller, in 1997, Alois Waller in 1989, Everett Waller, in 1980, and his beloved granddaughter who he raised, Tina (Waller) Trabue, in August 2003.
Also surviving are 2 daughters, Myrna Loy (Waller) Cumbee and husband, Jim of Indianapolis and Janice Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia; 3 sons, Douglas of Mount Vernon, Indiana, John and his wife, Nancy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Steven and his wife, Teresa of Mount Vernon, Indiana; granddaughters, Traci Glover of Indianapolis, Ind., and Tara Waller of Palmdale, California, grandsons, Aaron Waller of Lancaster, California, Tony and Bruce Cumbee both of Indianapolis, Michael Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Breck and Kevin Waller of Louisville, KY., John Steven Waller of Lexington, KY., and Jeffery Waller of Mount Vernon, Ind. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, a sister Marie (Waller) Dimmitt of Indianapolis; and a brother Ulysses "Sparky" Waller of Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, with burial at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel AME Church or the Posey County Humane Society.
Fred worked for Gronemeier's Hardware Store as a young man for eight years, while he ran his own shop. He owned and operated Waller's Radio and TV Repair Service most of his adult life. He was one of the first radio repairmen in the area. People from all over the Tri-State and as far away as Tennessee, and North Carolina, relied on his service and expertise in the early days of radio. Musical groups including, Sons of the Pioneers (Festus of Gunsmoke was lead singer) and Boots Randolph, would make special trips to have their equipment repaired and updated while traveling through the area.
Fred was a lifelong member of Bethel AME Church in Mount Vernon, where he served as a Steward and Lay Reader until his health failed. He was a board member of the Mount Vernon Thrift Shop for many years, and was a former member of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the citizens of Mount Vernon and presented an award by Mayor Higgins for outstanding citizenship during Black History Month in 2000. He was tested via Morris Code in 1936 for certification as a Ham Radio operator with the well-known call letters W9MLL.
Fred attended Booker T. Washington School in Mount Vernon and then commuted to Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, in order to receive his high school diploma in 1931.
He was a well-known and respected citizen of Mount Vernon and broke many racial barriers in Posey County. His motto was to " know a little bit about a little of everything." There have been numerous articles written about him in area newspapers, Posey County books and a story written by his grandson, Jeffrey, on the Internet about how proud he was of his grandfather's accomplishments as an African-American featuring a picture of the hand made radio he built as a young teenager beginning in 1928. He was respected and well liked by all who knew him, a true gentleman.
He was married to Helen M. (Cole) Waller, June 6, 1936. She died on his birthday March 16, 1986. He is preceded in death by a sister, Alda "Ben" (Waller) Woolridge, in 1985, brothers, Lales Waller, in 1997, Alois Waller in 1989, Everett Waller, in 1980, and his beloved granddaughter who he raised, Tina (Waller) Trabue, in August 2003.
Also surviving are 2 daughters, Myrna Loy (Waller) Cumbee and husband, Jim of Indianapolis and Janice Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia; 3 sons, Douglas of Mount Vernon, Indiana, John and his wife, Nancy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Steven and his wife, Teresa of Mount Vernon, Indiana; granddaughters, Traci Glover of Indianapolis, Ind., and Tara Waller of Palmdale, California, grandsons, Aaron Waller of Lancaster, California, Tony and Bruce Cumbee both of Indianapolis, Michael Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Breck and Kevin Waller of Louisville, KY., John Steven Waller of Lexington, KY., and Jeffery Waller of Mount Vernon, Ind. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, a sister Marie (Waller) Dimmitt of Indianapolis; and a brother Ulysses "Sparky" Waller of Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, with burial at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel AME Church or the Posey County Humane Society.
Fred was born in Mount Vernon, Ind., on March 16, 1913, to Ulysses S., who died in 1974, and Savannah (Pippin) Waller, who died in 1936. He was born on the same street in Mount Vernon, where he lived all of his life until he moved to Cloverleaf Apartments in 2001. He was admitted to Mount Vernon Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in November 2003, because of complications of Alzheimer's.
Fred worked for Gronemeier's Hardware Store as a young man for eight years, while he ran his own shop. He owned and operated Waller's Radio and TV Repair Service most of his adult life. He was one of the first radio repairmen in the area. People from all over the Tri-State and as far away as Tennessee, and North Carolina, relied on his service and expertise in the early days of radio. Musical groups including, Sons of the Pioneers (Festus of Gunsmoke was lead singer) and Boots Randolph, would make special trips to have their equipment repaired and updated while traveling through the area.
Fred was a lifelong member of Bethel AME Church in Mount Vernon, where he served as a Steward and Lay Reader until his health failed. He was a board member of the Mount Vernon Thrift Shop for many years, and was a former member of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the citizens of Mount Vernon and presented an award by Mayor Higgins for outstanding citizenship during Black History Month in 2000. He was tested via Morris Code in 1936 for certification as a Ham Radio operator with the well-known call letters W9MLL.
Fred attended Booker T. Washington School in Mount Vernon and then commuted to Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, in order to receive his high school diploma in 1931.
He was a well-known and respected citizen of Mount Vernon and broke many racial barriers in Posey County. His motto was to " know a little bit about a little of everything." There have been numerous articles written about him in area newspapers, Posey County books and a story written by his grandson, Jeffrey, on the Internet about how proud he was of his grandfather's accomplishments as an African-American featuring a picture of the hand made radio he built as a young teenager beginning in 1928. He was respected and well liked by all who knew him, a true gentleman.
He was married to Helen M. (Cole) Waller, June 6, 1936. She died on his birthday March 16, 1986. He is preceded in death by a sister, Alda "Ben" (Waller) Woolridge, in 1985, brothers, Lales Waller, in 1997, Alois Waller in 1989, Everett Waller, in 1980, and his beloved granddaughter who he raised, Tina (Waller) Trabue, in August 2003.
Also surviving are 2 daughters, Myrna Loy (Waller) Cumbee and husband, Jim of Indianapolis and Janice Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia; 3 sons, Douglas of Mount Vernon, Indiana, John and his wife, Nancy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Steven and his wife, Teresa of Mount Vernon, Indiana; granddaughters, Traci Glover of Indianapolis, Ind., and Tara Waller of Palmdale, California, grandsons, Aaron Waller of Lancaster, California, Tony and Bruce Cumbee both of Indianapolis, Michael Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Breck and Kevin Waller of Louisville, KY., John Steven Waller of Lexington, KY., and Jeffery Waller of Mount Vernon, Ind. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, a sister Marie (Waller) Dimmitt of Indianapolis; and a brother Ulysses "Sparky" Waller of Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, with burial at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel AME Church or the Posey County Humane Society.
Fred worked for Gronemeier's Hardware Store as a young man for eight years, while he ran his own shop. He owned and operated Waller's Radio and TV Repair Service most of his adult life. He was one of the first radio repairmen in the area. People from all over the Tri-State and as far away as Tennessee, and North Carolina, relied on his service and expertise in the early days of radio. Musical groups including, Sons of the Pioneers (Festus of Gunsmoke was lead singer) and Boots Randolph, would make special trips to have their equipment repaired and updated while traveling through the area.
Fred was a lifelong member of Bethel AME Church in Mount Vernon, where he served as a Steward and Lay Reader until his health failed. He was a board member of the Mount Vernon Thrift Shop for many years, and was a former member of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized by the citizens of Mount Vernon and presented an award by Mayor Higgins for outstanding citizenship during Black History Month in 2000. He was tested via Morris Code in 1936 for certification as a Ham Radio operator with the well-known call letters W9MLL.
Fred attended Booker T. Washington School in Mount Vernon and then commuted to Lincoln High School in Evansville, Indiana, in order to receive his high school diploma in 1931.
He was a well-known and respected citizen of Mount Vernon and broke many racial barriers in Posey County. His motto was to " know a little bit about a little of everything." There have been numerous articles written about him in area newspapers, Posey County books and a story written by his grandson, Jeffrey, on the Internet about how proud he was of his grandfather's accomplishments as an African-American featuring a picture of the hand made radio he built as a young teenager beginning in 1928. He was respected and well liked by all who knew him, a true gentleman.
He was married to Helen M. (Cole) Waller, June 6, 1936. She died on his birthday March 16, 1986. He is preceded in death by a sister, Alda "Ben" (Waller) Woolridge, in 1985, brothers, Lales Waller, in 1997, Alois Waller in 1989, Everett Waller, in 1980, and his beloved granddaughter who he raised, Tina (Waller) Trabue, in August 2003.
Also surviving are 2 daughters, Myrna Loy (Waller) Cumbee and husband, Jim of Indianapolis and Janice Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia; 3 sons, Douglas of Mount Vernon, Indiana, John and his wife, Nancy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Steven and his wife, Teresa of Mount Vernon, Indiana; granddaughters, Traci Glover of Indianapolis, Ind., and Tara Waller of Palmdale, California, grandsons, Aaron Waller of Lancaster, California, Tony and Bruce Cumbee both of Indianapolis, Michael Waller of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Breck and Kevin Waller of Louisville, KY., John Steven Waller of Lexington, KY., and Jeffery Waller of Mount Vernon, Ind. Also surviving are 11 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren, a sister Marie (Waller) Dimmitt of Indianapolis; and a brother Ulysses "Sparky" Waller of Indianapolis.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, Mount Vernon.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2003, at Schneider Funeral Home, with burial at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Ind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel AME Church or the Posey County Humane Society.
Inscription
W9MLL WALLER
FREDERICK D.
MAR. 16, 1913
DEC. 24, 2003
HELEN M.
AUG 7, 1917
MAR 16, 1986
Gravesite Details
Many thanks to kerri for sponsoring my Uncle Fred's memorial.
