Gerald “Jerry” Walles, 78, passed away at his home on January 11, 2025. Jerry was born in Michigan on December 15th. He loved the Lord with all of his heart and early in life surrendered his life to ministry and completed seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His career in ministry brought him to Texas, where he served in many pastoral roles throughout his lifetime. He served his country in the United States Air Force, something he was proud of and truly changed his life.
He was proceeded in death by his wife, Alma Britt Walles, his mother and step-father Helen and Larry Colby, his father and step-mother Percy and Lydia Walles, and a sister Carolyn Rose Walles. He is survived by his sisters Bev (John) Lisee, Debbie Walles and Pat Gilbert. He is also survived by his son Phillip (Jill) and his children Gannon (McKayla), Davon, Ella (fiancée Jackson), and Evan. He is also survived by his daughter Melissa (Brock) George and their children BJ, Rebecca (Austin), and Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
For those of you who knew him, his relationship with the Lord was first and foremost in his life. He genuinely cared for those in his community and spent his life serving others. In his later years when his body was not as cooperative as his spirit, he would spend hours in prayer and Bible reading. If you’re reading his obituary, it is likely that he prayed for you. We are forever grateful for the time he spent lifting our family up in prayer.
Arrangements will include a private burial for just the immediate family and two memorial services for family and friends. A service will take place at Reklaw Baptist Church at 6:00pm on Wednesday, January15th; a place near and dear to Jerry’s heart where he spent the majority of his ministry. A second service will be held on Sunday, January 26th at 3 pm at First Baptist Church in Smithville, Jerry’s current church.
Jerry would want first and foremost his obituary to be about the Lord. Second, he would want you to not send flowers. Two of the ministries near to his heart were Feed the Need (https://feedtheneed.org/donate-now/) that supports hungry people in Smithville and Mission Dignity: a ministry of Guidestone (https://www.guidestone.org/Mission-Dignity) that supports retired ministers.
