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William Orin (Bill) Walling was born March 27, 1942, to Gene and Pauline (Decman) Walling in Joliet, Illinois, and died on July 13, 2024, at Carroll Campbell Place in Lexington, South Carolina.
He grew up in Joliet. In fourth grade, he began taking clarinet lessons and participating in the Joliet Township Grade School, and later, high school bands. He played in the first clarinet section of those bands, which were so accomplished they were not allowed to compete in contests. Instead, they gave exhibition concerts around the country, including at Julliard. To hear samples of his eighth grade band, check YouTube for Joliet Township Grade School Band 1955. Bill attended Lincoln Christian College and was ordained as a minister in the Christian Church. He served churches in Westervelt, Illinois, and founded and served a church in Carlyle, Illinois.
In 1968 he married Deborah Chrisman. They had a son, Todd, and later divorced. In 1972, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medic and served in that capacity for 20 years, retiring as a master sergeant. He served for most of his career as an NCO in the psychiatric units of stateside military hospitals at Fort Ord, California; Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
He served a three-year tour in the Berlin Brigade. During his time there, he had the honor of playing the role of Uncle Sam at the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. He completed his military service as the NCO safety officer in the safety office of Health Services Command at Fort Sam Houston.
He met his future wife, Linda Lucas, while he was stationed at Fort Jackson, and they married in 1991. He retired to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1992. Beginning in his college years, Bill entertained audiences as he lipsynced old comedy records from the 1940s and 50s. Favorites were Andy Griffith’s “What It Was Was Football,” Victor Borge’s “Phonetic Punctuation” and Johnny Standley’s “It’s in the Book.”
Over the years, he developed a related interest in humor and its healing effects. His last performance was in 2022 when he could no longer do the high kicks, but the lipsyncing was accurate. Photography was another of Bill’s passions. He loved to work with cameras, take photographs and share them. In the 1990s, he selected several photos to enlarge and frame. Linda wrote poems to accompany them, and together they exhibited the photo/poem combinations at a few locations in Columbia.
His best known and most widely circulated photograph is “The Combat Medic.” It is a photo of the statue at the AMEDD Museum, Fort Sam Houston, which depicts a medic treating a fallen soldier on the battlefield. Many veterans and their families have been touched by it.
Bill was a gregarious person who loved people. He had a wide range of friends and treasured them all.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; his son, Todd (Renae) Hall; his brother, Rich (Sherry); nephew, Doug Walling, and niece, Jennifer Ardaugh (Joe).
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be gathering of friends from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at 619 King Street, Columbia, South Carolina. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Rice Estate,100 Finley Rd, Columbia. Friends are invited to join his family at either or both events. His ashes will be scattered in Iowa this fall.