Gary Dale Wallace

Gary Dale Wallace, 74, of Strang, Oklahoma, was born June 25, 1951, in Pryor, OK. He passed peacefully at home on Monday, September 22, 2025, after a long illness.

A lifelong mechanic and shop owner, Gary had a tool for just about everything and could fix almost anything. Customers came in with car trouble and left with a running ride and a good story. He loved fast cars, fishing, gigging, tinkering with all kinds of electronics, looking at the night sky, and anything that would fly or go into space. If it had wheels, wings, or wires, Gary wanted to know how it worked (and how to make it work better).

Early in life, Gary developed a love for music and became quite accomplished as a musician, playing piano and keyboard in several bands. At one time he even had a recording studio at home, and he would occasionally pick up a guitar to play. Gary also loved sitting outside on the porch in the evenings listening to the bugs and frogs. In fact, if he couldn’t hear any, he was known by his family to go to extreme (and hilarious) measures to amplify the sound. He also was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan, during the good years, and the bad.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, Argyle Chiles “A.C.” Wallace, and his grandson, Kevin Lane Stoots. He is survived by his mother, Marjorie Ann Wallace, also of Strang; his former wife of 42 years and the mother of his two daughters, Luanne Howe Wallace of Pryor, OK; his daughters, Michelle Lynn Stoots and her husband Sammy “Charlie” of Sapulpa, OK, and Jana Leigh Goins and Ted Key of Chouteau, OK. Gary was known as “Pappy” to three grandchildren, Charlotte Rhaye Stoots of Sapulpa, Madison Luanne Thilges and her husband Travis of Spavinaw, and Bobby Joe Goins and his wife Savannah of Afton; and four great-grandchildren — Carter, Carmen, Preston, and Nora.

Much like his dad, Gary loved a good prank followed by a good laugh. He believed in hard work, honest fixes, and the kind of curiosity that sends you outside at night just to look up at the stars. Wherever Gary went, if you looked around long enough, you’d usually find a candy bar or a stash of chocolate chip cookies. He taught his family how to change a tire, fix a car, and tell a good story. He also left them with the (sometimes unsolicited) wisdom that if you’re in a hurry you should leave sooner, and to keep going when the road gets rough.

Per Gary’s wishes, there will be no formal services. The family invites you to remember him in your own way: Watch your favorite football team play, take a drive with the windows down, listen to some good music, cast a line on a quiet lake, watch an airplane fly overhead, have some chocolate, or look up at the night sky while listening for bugs and frogs and think, “Yep, he’d have loved this.”