Dr. Joe Abels Wall, son of Roy Wall and Ruth Abels Wall, was born March 17, 1929, in Summersville, Missouri. He was preceded in death by both parents and his wife, Carol Louise Wall. He is survived by daughter Susan Elizabeth Wall (Horton) and husband Nelson of Carthage, MO; son John David Wall and wife Lisa of Osage Beach, MO; daughter Ruth Ann Wall (Groff) and husband Dennis of Charleston, AR., 12 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Dr. Wall attended school in Summersville, graduating from Summersville High School in 1947. He was active in the student council, band and orchestra, basketball, and baseball. He was a long-time member of the local Boy Scout troop and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. While a young man, he was introduced to the sport of fishing and spent many days floating and fishing the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. His love of fishing remained with him throughout his life. Under the strict guidance of his mother, Dr. Wall learned to enjoy music, playing both the trumpet and piano. His skill and love of the piano also stayed with him throughout his life.
After high school, Dr. Wall attended Drury College in Springfield, MO, where he graduated in 1951 with a B.S. in biology and chemistry. Following graduation, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and stationed at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He married his long-time sweetheart, Carol Louise Baker, on December 24, 1952. To this union were born three children.
Dr. Wall attended medical school at the University of Arkansas- Little Rock, graduating in 1958. In 1959, following an internship in Kansas City, MO, he moved his family to Houston, MO, and began his medical career under the mentorship of Dr. T. J. Burns. Dr. Wall practiced medicine in Houston for 40 years, from 1959 until retiring in 1999.
Dr. Wall and his family were members of the First Christian Church. He was baptized into Christ at a young age in the river at Rock Garden Camp where he played his trumpet each morning to awaken his friends. He was an elder on the church board, sang in the choir when he was able to do so, and played the piano occasionally when needed. He served for years as the team physician for the Houston Tiger football team and could be found on the sideline most home games. He loved hunting and fishing, gospel music, traveling with Carol, Cardinal baseball, and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Many were the times a hearty “Woo Pig Sooie” could be heard emanating from the Wall living room as the Razorbacks took the field or scored a touchdown.
Most of all Doc loved being surrounded by his family. His favorite things were the gathering of his wife, children, and grandkids around the table for holiday dinners and parties. He had a true love for his community and his fellow man. He strived to serve however he could and dedicated his life to helping others. He was charitable, honest, and a man of great integrity and honor. He will be greatly missed by his family and his community.
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