His parents, W.S. and Mildred Ingram Howell, welcomed their son David Wallace Howell into the world on April 30, 1950, in Bainbridge, Georgia. Following his graduation from Bainbridge High School, he went on to acquire a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Georgia Southern University, where he also held the position of President of the Student Teachers of Georgia Student Association.
At the beginning of the 1970s, Wallace was a history teacher at BHS. His work at Bass Pro Shops on the Square in Downtown Bainbridge, where he worked alongside Mr. B
ud Harrell, Wallace Howell Sporting Goods, which eventually became Bainbridge Sporting Goods on Scott Street, as well as his guiding at Jack Wingate’s and the boys camp, are perhaps the things that have brought Wallace the most recognition. He retired from Hicks Inc. and began selling sporting goods, which was the activity that he enjoyed the most. Wallace attended the Sylvania Methodist Church as a full-time member.
Wallace possessed a sarcastic sense of humor and appeared to be completely oblivious to the reason that you were laughing so much. His favorite thing to do was to tell stories and spread them throughout his sales territory. Years of truth, lies, and everything in between were used to bind the walls of the sporting goods business, but the most important reason was the connection of friendship that existed between the employees.
Fishing, talking about fishing, and teaching people how to fish were all activities that Wallace enjoyed. Because he fed the geese at the Boat Basin so frequently, he gave them names, and the birds replied correctly to their names. It was Elvis Presley’s music that Wallace adored. Because Rhonda didn’t care all that much about Elvis, no one knows whether he actually loved Elvis or whether he only seemed to love him so much.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Rhonda NeSmith Howell; his children, Kimberly Hornsby Victor of Iron City, and David Howell, Jr. Sarah of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Brantley & Myra, Jordan & Will, Nick & Beth, and Lee; his great-grandson, JD, and another great-grandchild on the way; his sister, Joan Howell Broxton Greg of Mayhaw; Bea, his best dog; and a large extended family. The deaths of Wallace’s siblings, Freddie Howell and Judy Garrison, came before those of his parents. Wallace was also predeceased by his parents.
