Duane Frederick Wallace (February 26, 1963 – July 29, 2026)

On July 29th, 2026, Duane Frederick Wallace of Canton, GA, aged 63, unexpectedly entered the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. Duane was a beloved and dedicated husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend to many. Preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Joyce Wallace, he is survived by his lovely wife, Amy Wallace, his four children – Earnest Wallace, Grant (Jordan) Wallace, Claire Wallace, and Lauren Wallace, as well as his sister, Denise (Brian) Owens, and his nephews, Isaac, Caleb (Rachel), and Samuel “Sam” Owens.

Duane was born at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County, VA, to his parents Frederick “Fred” and Linda ‘Joyce’ Wallace. Throughout his childhood, he participated in Boy Scouts of America, eventually earning his Eagle Scout Award. Duane graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1985 with bachelor’s degrees in Business, Marketing, and a minor in Psychology. He owned his own contracting business and worked as a General Contractor in Florida until he transitioned to work with State Farm Insurance, spending 32 years with the company. Duane served in many positions with State Farm, including Catastrophe Team Manager and Claims Manager. He touched the lives of his coworkers in a unique way, and they often described him as kind, helpful, caring, authentic, and a true team player.

Duane lived each day as if it was his last, and was deeply intentional with the way he spent his time. He made sure his family knew how much he loved them through his actions and words. He was an outstanding husband, father, friend, and servant to all those around him. Duane was always quick to lend a hand when there was a need, and to share his blessings with others. If you knew him, then it was only a matter of time until he volunteered his time, skill, labor, or advice in some way; and it was not unusual to find yourself being offered homemade preserves, surplus gardening harvest, or farm-fresh eggs. The love of Christ was seen in everything he did, and the joy of the Lord was evident in his kind smile and warm spirit. Duane had a way of making you feel right at home, seen, and cared for. He showed up, stood up, and did his best to protect those he loved, and those around him.

Duane was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed any activity that gave him the opportunity to spend time in nature.Some of his favorite activities included hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, and backpacking. Duane pioneered some of the first alligator hunting trips with Wounded Warriors in Action – an organization that serves combat wounded veterans by providing adaptive outdoor sporting activities. He shared his love for the outdoors with anyone who was receptive. He was a dedicated leader during his children’s time in Boy Scouts of America and American Heritage Girls, where he embodied an outstanding example of a Godly man that the scouts in each organization looked up to, learned from, and admired. He outfitted many with the gear they needed for a successful camping or backpacking trip, happily lending equipment or providing product recommendations. Many of his cherished childhood memories included spending time outdoors with his family, and as a father he was intentional about providing those same experiences for his children. He created many meaningful memories with them on countless trips, ranging from one-on-one birthday excursions to group adventures. He never left a trip without sharing his skills, acknowledging his love of God’s creation, or expressing his excitement to be spending time with his children.

Duane was a lifelong learner, and his friends and loved ones described him as someone who knew how to do a ‘little bit of everything’. If he didn’t know how to do something, it wasn’t long until he figured out how! Some of his favorite topics to research were related to sustainability, emergency preparedness, natural food and medicinal resources, history, and personal development. He put these skills to work by volunteering on the security teams at many of the churches he attended, and getting involved with the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Neighborhood Watch program. Duane also enjoyed exploring avenues of alternative communication, and had most recently started engaging with GMRS through the North GA GMRS Network with his daughter, Claire. He earned his Amateur and General HAM Licenses, and derived much joy from making countless connections around the world. While he had many diverse hobbies, Duane invested himself intentionally in each one. His participation in every one of his ventures has left a lasting impression with every person he encountered, and his presence, kind heart, humor, and wisdom is already dearly missed

To honor his memory, we encourage you to spend time both outside and with the Lord. Take time to connect with and appreciate the gifts from the beautiful world around you, and find ways to leave each place a little better than you found it. Consider being a part of something bigger than yourself, and strive to leave behind a legacy filled with intention, Godliness, love, and genuine care for others, just as Duane did.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:33-34

Duane's Celebration of Life will be held on September 19th, 2026 in Canton, Georgia. Details can be gathered by reaching out to the family, and they encourage you to share your stories and memories of Duane below.

The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Duane Frederick Wallace.