By Gretchen Keiser

Wallace E. Irving, a permanent deacon for the archdiocese and member of St. Pius X parish in Conyers, died Dec. 2 in Conyers following an illness. He was 76 years old.

The senior member of the diaconal class ordained in 1991, Wally Irving had suffered two strokes and wanted to minister to stroke victims and the sick.

A World War II veteran and retired RCA employee, he was ordained in June 1991 at the age of 74 and part of his ministry was as a chaplain to patients at Rockdale County Hospital. He continued his work in a motorized wheelchair when his own health failed.

At the funeral Mass celebrated at St. Pius Dec. 4 Father John Walsh said, "I don't believe Wally ever stood in this pulpit and preached the Word of God, but his whole life was a sermon."

The Mass at which he assisted, usually the 8:30 a.m. Mass, was enlivened by his warmth and hospitality as he greeted each person, Father Walsh recalled. His preparation for his own death in recent weeks showed his confident faith that "for (God's) faithful people, life is changed and not ended," the pastor said, taking words from the Mass Preface.

Irving was also eulogized by Father Eugene Bonacci, CP, who has taught adult education classes at St. Pius.

Helping Irving plan the readings for the funeral, Father Bonacci said he heard many stories "about Wally from Wally, but I also heard about Wally behind his back,"

From those stories Father Bonacci, a Scripture scholar, suggested to Irving that the Gospel be St. Mark's description of the woman who poured costly ointment over Jesus at a dinner in Bethany, disturbing some, but winning the approval of the Master. "She has done what was in her power to do," Jesus said approvingly.

Like the woman in the story, Father Bonacci suggested, the deacon did what he could for Jesus "When you could have quit ... you studied theology and gave flesh to the Word ... you became the kind of minister that grace makes," Father Bonacci told his friend.

The Gospel was proclaimed by John Stracham, a permanent deacon whose ministry inspired Irving, according to the family. "He inspirationally showed Wally that physical infirmity was no reason not to proclaim your love for God," said Tom Irving, one of the deacon's sons.

The family also noted the support of member of the Cursillo movement for the deacon.

Ray Egan, a deacon, spoke on behalf of the 1991 class at a wake service the night before. Bagpiper Michael Balfour played at the funeral and parish musicians Terry Lynch, Carl Wust and John Sloan provided music the deacon chose for the wake and Mass.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marian; three sons, Thomas, Jon, and R. Michael Irving; two daughters, Donna L. Gray and Patricia A. Baker, and 10 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shepherds Gate Hospice, P.O. Box 447, Conyers, GA 30209