Wallace Gayle Loper Sr.

Wallace Gayle Loper Sr. passed from this mortal life into his eternal rest on Friday, March 6, 2026. Born in Lindsay, Oklahoma, on September 2, 1933, to Odis and Ruby Williams Loper, he was the oldest of four children. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Don Loper of Oklahoma City and Joe Loper of Acworth, Georgia.

Wallace served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1953, working on aircraft engines at Miramar, California. He spent his career in production management and manufacturing. He was an active member of his local church and, together with his wife Alene, raised four children during their 35 years of marriage in Indiana. He later remarried Deanna Crosley, and together they shared 25 years of marriage filled with family history projects, travel, and devoted service in their church, including a two-year mission among the Navajo people. In his later years, after moving to Tennessee, he was lovingly cared for by his family.

Wallace enjoyed hunting and fishing, bowling, softball, and all kinds of games. He continued his production management work in Knoxville, Tennessee, before returning to Indiana, where he volunteered as a first responder and Industrial Medical Technician.

He is survived by his sister, Gail Shipley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his children, Lyle Loper of Shelbyville, Indiana, Angela (Mike) McCoy of Crossville, Tennessee, Ruby (Tom) Hughes of Mascot, Tennessee, and Wallace Jr. (Lana) of Fairland, Indiana; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loved ones.