Herschel Tucker Waller, Jr., 76, of Panama City, FL, died on November 29, 2021 after a brief illness.
Born on January 12, 1945, he grew up in Vernon, FL and graduated from Vernon High School.
He then attended the Florida State University on a football scholarship, graduating in 1968. He lettered multiple years and was extremely proud to have played on FSU’s first team to defeat the University of Florida in 1967.
After college, H.T. worked as a teacher and a high school football coach before launching a successful business career. He also played slow-pitch softball from 1965 through 1980 for some of the nation’s top teams (most notably Joe’s Pizza of Milton, FL and Howards Furniture of Denver, NC), including two ASA national title teams and three runners-up. In eight American Softball Association (ASA) national championships, Waller hit 74 homers and batted over .600. He had the distinction of hitting more than 2,000 home runs in his career and was inducted into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was also an avid outdoorsman and careful steward of his family farm, passing his love for hunting and fishing on to his daughters and then to his grandchildren. Some of their fondest memories involve time spent with their Pa on the water or on the farm.
He is survived by his former wife, Paula Lovett Waller, and their children Ashley Waller of Panama City, FL; India Witte, husband David and his two beloved grandchildren Ingalls and Tucker Witte of Tampa, FL; sister Marlene Brock, husband Kelly and brother Larry Waller of Chipley, FL, as well as extended family. He is predeceased by his parents Donie and Herschel Tucker Waller, Sr., and his brother John Waller.
A memorial will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2021 in the Chapel of Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 2401 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL. The family will receive friends from 1pm until 2pm with service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to benefit the FSU Football program c/o Seminole Boosters, Inc.
