LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Wallace Dean Harper, age 81, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026. He was born in Lancaster, SC, on September 1, 1945. He was the son of the late Gilbert Lee Harper and the late Dorothy Mae Dorough Massey, and was the husband of the late Gail Groves Harper.

Wallace was a sweet and kind man who never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He had a way of keeping you straight while still making you feel loved, and his family will always remember him as the best uncle anyone could ask for. Wallace was a true family man who treasured every moment spent with the people he loved. He absolutely adored his dog, Red, and would proudly tell you that Red was his blood relative.

He was also a hardworking businessman with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit. With a small investment and plenty of determination, Wallace built Southern Heartwood LLC from the ground up, turning his love and knowledge of old wood into a successful business. He reclaimed wood and gave it new life, creating beautiful antique pieces, particularly handcrafted hardwood flooring.

He loved music and even enjoyed writing songs of his own. In his free time, Wallace could often be found fishing or enjoying a good game of poker. Above all, he will be remembered for his kind heart, his generous spirit, and his love for his family.

He leaves behind three brothers, Gary Harper, Randy Massey, and Ben Massey; two sisters, Linda Harper and Tamara Massey; many nieces and nephews, Duane Harper and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Shane and Bryce; London Harper and his children, Hampton and Dalton; Phaim Harper and his children, Kellen and Dillon; Dustin Truesdale; Tiffany Mahaffey and her husband, Luke, and their children, James, Carson, Kinsley and Emery; Melanie Brown Alvarez and her children, Logan and Lanie Duvall; Brian Allen and his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Hunter and Jesse; and great-nieces and nephews, Heather, Marcus, and Mitchell Swindell.

Wallace is preceded in death by his wife, Gail Harper; his parents, Gilbert Harper and Dorothy Massey; two brothers, Wendell and Doug Harper; a sister, Peggy Snipes; a niece, Michelle Swindell; and two great-nephews, Mark Black and Toby Swindell.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Wallace will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, September 11, 2026, at The Chapel of Burgess Funeral Home of Lancaster, SC officiated by Pastor Catlin Rollings.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, memorial contributions in honor of Wallace’s love for animals may be made to Lancaster County Animal Shelter, 2074 Pageland Hwy, Lancaster, SC 29720.