Wallace Oscar Byrd

Wallace “Oscar” Byrd, 95, left this world on Monday, September 21, 2020. Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Friday, September 25, 2020 in White’s Chapel of Memories, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford 76086. Visitation: 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday in White’s Chapel of Memories. Visitation: 1 – 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Lufkin. Cryptside Service: 2 p.m. Saturday. Oscar was born November 13, 1924 in Carmona, Texas, to John Leonard and Lillian Byrd. At 18 years of age he joined the Navy, where he became a Master Diver doing salvage recovery in Saipan. Oscar was released from the Navy in 1946 and returned to his hometown of Redland. There he married Nancy Sue Runnels, she was 16, he was 24. They started many businesses in Lufkin including Oscar’s Diner, and a wrecking yard. Daddy said “they all failed because everyone either wanted the “family” discount or the “friend” discount”. Oscar and Nancy moved to Fort Worth and opened A & B Muffler. They were soon joined by partner and lifelong friend, Linwood Graham. Next came Don Harrell, Bobby Garland, and George Combs. Daddy said “he would never have made it without these guys”. For a while, hunting was his joy. Oscar hunted all over the U. S., British Columbia, and Alaska, but Colorado was his favorite. Hunting buddies include Robert “Bobby” Byrd, Gerald Simmons, R. A. Knight, Alan Knight, Lynwood Short, Louie Short, and Galen Gossip. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 63 years, Nancy Sue Runnels Byrd in 2011; daughter, Rebecca Sue “Becky” Byrd in 1956; son, Robert Oscar “Bob” Byrd in 2008. Oscar is survived by daughter, Gwen Perkins and husband, Barry; grandchildren, Donnie and Jeannie Byrd, Becky Roderick, Rian and Trevor Kerr, Bradley and Meghan Rodrick, Brandon and Fianua Perkins, Kasha and Jamie Kinman; multiple great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and lifelong friends.