Wallace Stephen MacMillan: Architect, Artist, and Beloved Community Member

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Wallace Stephen MacMillan

Wallace Stephen MacMillan passed peacefully away on December 24, 2025, in his home in Calistoga, California from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He is survived by his sisters, Cathey L. Chelgren and Laurie A. MacMillan; nieces, Amy DeMoss (Ryan), Sarah Chegren-Iveson (Steve), Lara MacMillan-Shelton (Travis), and Amber Christman (Jaron); and grandnieces and nephews, Cade and Coral Wilkinson, Elizabeth, Ian, Harry, and Georgia DeMoss, Lydia, Wednesday, and Dax Grant, and Maia Christman. 

Wally attended both Saint Bernards and Eureka High Schools and went on to get his degree in architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He worked mostly in Los Angeles and San Francisco but travelled across the western United States on design/build projects. As an architect, Wally was a creative problem solver, blending artistic vision with strong technical skills. He had the ability to transfer complex client needs and site constraints into functional spaces while successfully managing budgets and timelines effectively. 

Wally loved travelling and discovering new places, art, architecture, and people. Wherever he went, he found new friends. He was honest, interesting and interested, forthright, and opinionated, and we loved that about him! He enjoyed having friends over for wine, a gourmet dinner, and stimulating conversation, During the COVID era, he became a part of a Rancho Pod of active retired and semi-retired friends, joined the social club, and enjoyed his life. After many years of using his talents only on design drawings, he returned to his photography and watercolor painting, choosing Napa Valley and coastal scenes, people, and architectural subjects, which are beloved by many.  

We would like to thank the Martin O’Neill Cancer Center doctors (Shram and Ari) and staff who worked so hard to help him fight this disease; the Compassus Napa Hospice team for their genuine and gentle care of Wally in his last weeks; as well as his numerous friends from Rancho de Calistoga for their love, caring, and support. He truly found his community in you. The family will hold a private service for him in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, please donate to HIV research, AML leukemia research, or Napa Hospice.