Roseann Waller

She was born on July 30, 1944 in Concordia, Kansas. Growing up in Wichita, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University. She was working as a legal secretary when she caught the eye of an airman named Howard Waller who lived in the same apartment building. After a first date at the Simon and Garfunkel concert in November 1969, they courted, got engaged, and were married on December 5, 1970. With Howard being reassigned to Air Force bases in California, Nebraska, and Alabama during the course of several years, Roseann set about making their houses into homes while welcoming their first child, Jeff, in 1973. When their second child, Andy, arrived in 1978, they were thankfully able to plant longstanding roots back in Wichita where Roseann’s family lived.

Roseann loved to host parties and holiday dinners for family and friends, sharing stories and laughter for hours. She was a devoted lover of animals, from the wildlife she visited during her frequent zoo walks to the pet dogs that she treated like full-fledged members of the family. Roseann dedicated considerable time and energy to service, whether that involved being a regular helper at her children’s schools, overseeing the communion service at her church for years, or volunteering at thrift shops and soup kitchens. Her Christian faith was an important foundation of her identity, and sustained her through difficult moments such as the loss of her mother in 1995 and the tragic death of her brother in 2002. Roseann’s kindness, generosity of spirit, sense of humor, and famous chocolate chip cookies will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Roseann was preceded in death by: her parents, Eugene and Alexine Larson and her brothers, Jerry (Donna) and Larry Larson. She is survived by: her loving husband of 52 years, Howard Waller; her two sons, Jeff (Stefanie) and Andy (Courtney); her three grandchildren, Lydia, Cash, and Ava; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday September 22 at 1:00 p.m. at Resthaven Mortuary in Wichita followed by an inurnment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11800 West Kellogg, Wichita, Kansas, Garden of Freedom Monolith,  Row A, space 104.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Roseann’s memory to the Sedgwick County Zoo.