Louis Edward Waller founded his own company, served as a deacon of his church, and was the only minority in the 150-year history of Waynesburg College to receive an honorary doctorate degree.

But while Mr. Waller loved to work and stay busy in community service, he always had time for his son, his daughters and the many young people who looked up to him as a second father, said his wife, Shirley Waller.

Mr. Waller, she said, always provided his family with everything they needed, while also making sure to attend their games, concerts and other activities.

"He was a faithful, wonderful husband, father and friend to people," his wife said. "We're going to really miss him."

Mr. Waller, of Washington, died of heart failure early Friday morning. He was 80.

Mr. Waller was a graduate of Washington High School, attended Carlisle Business School and the University of Pittsburgh and received an associate's degree from Dean Institute of Technology.

In 1948, Mr. Waller was honorably discharged from the Army, where he had served as an administrator of company funds to all military units in Pennsylvania. He married in 1954, and the couple had three children, Louis Waller of Canonsburg, Phyllis Waller of Washington and Lorraine Waller-Whitehead of Raleigh, N.C.

After the war, Mr. Waller worked as a draftsman for Steel City Engineering Co. from 1950 to 1953, then as an estimator and salesman of fabricated steel products for Plasteel Products Corp. from 1953 to 1963.

In 1963, Mr. Waller became president of McAnallen Corp., where he worked until 1986. He then founded his own construction company, Waller Corp., and worked there until his retirement.

Although Mr. Waller was one of the few black men in the local construction trades at the time, his colleagues at conferences and around conference tables "always treated us with the highest respect," his wife said.

In spite of his busy schedule, Mrs. Waller said, her husband drove their son to track meets, attended their daughter's concerts and activities, and always put family before other obligations.

Her husband's work in construction took the family on trips all over the United States, and when their children were older, the family traveled for pleasure to Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Greece, Turkey, France, Spain, Italy and England.

Mr. Waller served as a deacon and trustee of Nazareth Baptist Church of Washington, and wrote a series called "The American Negro" that was published in the Observer-Reporter. He served as president of the Master Builder's Association of Western Pennsylvania, was a member of the state board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, served as chairman of Friends of Scouting of the Boy Scouts of America in 1978, and as chairman of the United Way Campaign from 1973 to 1976.

In 1983, Waynesburg College presented Mr. Waller with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree -- the only minority in the college's history to receive the honor.

In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Waller is survived by eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at William G. Neal Funeral Home, 925 Allison Ave., Washington. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Nazareth Baptist Church, 123 N. Lincoln St. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Waller's honor to the Louis E. Waller Leadership Fund, Washington County Community Foundation, 331 S. Main St., Washington, PA 15301.