Willie "Buddy" Thomas Wright

Willie Thomas Wright 

Willie Thomas Wright, 90, of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026. He was born February 20, 1936, in Dallas to Nevitt and Myrtle Wright. 

Willie will be remembered for his sense of humor, his warm smile, his love of country music and swing dancing, and his proud service to his country in the United States Air Force. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, trips to Las Vegas, and enjoying a cold beer with friends. 

He was married to the love of his life, Jennie, for 11 years. Together they enjoyed attending the Jefferson Boulevard Church of Christ in Oak Cliff. 

Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Nevitt and Myrtle Wright; his wife, Jennie; his sisters Doris, Joyce, and Janis; and his brother Barry. He is survived by his sister Patty of Covington and his brother Wesley of Midlothian. 

He is also survived by his children, Tommy and Chyenne Wright of Arkansas; Robert and Jane Wright of Alvarado; and Linda and James Blake of Midlothian, along with 15 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. 

Willie enjoyed the simple things that made life good: Thanksgiving dinner at the Circle Grill, having beers with friends at O’Malley’s Club in Oak Cliff and the Hickory House on Industrial, and spending time with the people he cared about. 

He served three years in the United States Air Force as an airplane mechanic, an experience that suited a man who would spend much of his life working with his hands and understanding how things worked. In the 1960s, Willie owned a Conoco station for several years. He also built his own race cars and raced at Yellow Belly, Devil’s Bowl, and other tracks around Dallas. One of his race vehicles was a 1957 Chevy panel truck, and his success on the track left him with a shelf full of trophies. He especially enjoyed rebuilding engines and racing cars with his son Robert. 

After selling the Conoco station, Willie became a carpet installer in the Metroplex and earned a reputation as one of the best floor men in the business. He continued working well into his 80s. After finishing his final job alongside his grandson Joshua and his son Robert, Willie told Joshua, “Put those tools in your Daddy’s truck, I’m done.” It was a fitting retirement for a man who had spent a lifetime working hard and doing things his own way. 

Willie was also an avid golfer. He watched golf on television and played every chance he got, often with his son Robert and his brother Barry. He enjoyed games of 42 and poker with friends and family, and in his later years he was content enjoying a beer on the porch or sitting down to watch an old Western. 

A fourth-generation Texan, Willie was born and raised in Oak Cliff and remained deeply connected to the people and places that shaped his life. He lived a long life filled with family, hard work, racing, golf, good friends, good stories, and more than a few cold beers. 

Willie will be deeply missed by his family, his friends, and everyone fortunate enough to have known