Wallace K. Thomas Sr, age 99, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, surrounded by his sons at Redstone Village in Huntsville, Alabama.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John K. and Olivia M. Thomas of Hale County, Alabama; wife, Inez R. Thomas of Huntsville, Alabama, and sister, Carolyn T. Glover of Greensboro, Alabama.
He is survived by his sons, Wallace K. Thomas, Jr. (Tamara), and W. Preston Thomas; grandchildren, Barrett Thomas (Kelsey) of Chico, California, Trevor Thomas (Katrina) of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Tyler Thomas (Jacqueline), of Pinellas Park, Florida, and Chelsie Thomas of Miami Beach, Florida; four great-grandchildren and one due to arrive in November of 2026.
Wallace had a long and accomplished career with Army Missile Command, and a sideline used car dealership with his longtime friend, a fellow NASCAR racing enthusiast, Frank Littleton. In 1988, he was interviewed live on air before the start of the Daytona 500 on CBS. He and Inez predicted the winner and runner up of the event, earning them an honorable post-race mention from the announcer’s booth.
He was a world traveler and a road warrior, having navigated 49 states by automobile, 48 of which he shared with his family.
Wallace was beloved by many in Hale County, Alabama, and was simply known as “Uncle Wallace”.
A celebration of life event will be held in Greensboro, Alabama at a future date.
