Obituary
NASCAR Cup
Lynda Petty dies at 72
Richard Petty's wife Lynda has died peacefully in her Level Cross home surrounded by family.
Edited: Mar 25, 2014, 10:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lynda Gayle Owens Petty, 72, one of the first women of NASCAR and its most beloved wife, mother and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Level Cross, North Carolina today. She was surrounded by her family.
Affectionately known as "Mrs. Lynda" to so many, Lynda Petty set a standard for being a loving, supportive and, when needed, an authoritative wife and mother. She also set the benchmark for being a leader in her local community while raising a family in the fast-growing sport of stock car racing.
It was with strong will that Petty fought cancer over the past several years. It was the same determination that led her to make a difference as a Red Cross volunteer, a school volunteer, the president of the athletic booster club and a Girl and Boy Scout leader in her lifetime. She also served on the Randolph County School Board for 16 years and was on the board of the Randolph County Hospice.
Richard Petty
Photo by: Covy Moore
Lynda helped start the Racing Wives Auxiliary and will always be remembered as the wife to Richard Petty. Their steadfast love endured trials that only a marriage of over 50 years can. Through triumph and heartache, Lynda Petty was the castle that supported a king in private and public moments.
Lynda is proceeded by grandson Adam K. Petty and is survived by her loving husband Richard; son, Kyle and daughters Sharon and husband Terry Farlow; Lisa and husband Charlie Luck; Rebecca and husband Brian Moffitt. In addition, she is survived by grandchildren Austin Petty and wife Sarah; Hannah and husband Brad Leonard; Montgomery and husband Randy Schlappi; Maggie and Kyle Farlow; Richard, Sarah and Margaret Luck; Helen, Thad and Harrison Moffitt, and great grandchildren Sullivan Mae Schlappi and Adam Christopher Stonewall Petty.
A private memorial service for family and friends will be held at Reverie Place in Randleman, North Carolina which Pastor Kenny Crosswhite will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following:
Petty Family Foundation 311 Branson Mill Road Randleman, N.C. 27317
Richard Petty
Photo by: Action Sports Photography
A public memorial service will not be held and the family asks for privacy at this time. The family offered the following statement to the public:
"We wish to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us and our family throughout the years and at this time. We will forever love and miss a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend."
Richard Petty Motorsports
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Kyle Larson didn't arrive at Fontana; he was already there
Next article Team Chevy drivers talk Martinsville
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Richard Petty
Unprecedented: How every Daytona 500 three-peat was derailed
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Daytona 500
Unprecedented: How every Daytona 500 three-peat was derailed
Almirola: Wallace can't afford to "screw up" driving Petty's No. 43
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Almirola: Wallace can't afford to "screw up" driving Petty's No. 43
Appalachian State houses one of stock car racing’s premier collections
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Appalachian State houses one of stock car racing’s premier collections
More from
Richard Petty Motorsports
Jimmie Johnson explains decision to bring Josh Berry to Legacy
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Jimmie Johnson explains decision to bring Josh Berry to Legacy
Jimmie Johnson explains why the time was right for Legacy to add a third car full time
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Jimmie Johnson explains why the time was right for Legacy to add a third car full time
Ty Dillon and Petty GMS to part ways after 2022
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Ty Dillon and Petty GMS to part ways after 2022
Latest news
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Honda Racing US echoes Porsche urgency over unified 2030 rules framework
Toto Wolff: Two sponsors left Mercedes after promoting Kimi Antonelli into F1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Toto Wolff: Two sponsors left Mercedes after promoting Kimi Antonelli into F1
Winners and losers from the penultimate round of 2026 NASCAR Cup season at Martinsville
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
Winners and losers from the penultimate round of 2026 NASCAR Cup season at Martinsville
Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
Cadillac to investigate high-speed Mexico GP failure that led to angry Valtteri Bottas reaction
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe