Lynda Petty: What Happened To Richard Petty’s Wife?

Who Is Richard Petty’s Wife?

Lynda Petty is the late wife of American former stock car racing driver Richard Petty. Lynda’s husband is known to the world to have raced from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No. 43 Plymouth/Pontiac for Petty Enterprises.

Lynda Petty: Bio Summary

Is Lynda Petty still alive?

Is she still alive? Lynda Petty died in 2014 at the age of 72. Lynda Petty was born on 6 March 1942 in Guilford County, North Carolina, USA. Her parents are Leonard Garland Owens (1917–1993) and Helen Louise Cable Owens (1917–1996). She is the sister of Randy Garland Owens.

Not much has been disclosed about Lynda Petty’s early life. She is a voice actor known for voicing Mrs. The King in Cars (2006). She is known for her work in ESPN SportsCentury (1999) and Petty Blue (2010). She helped start the Racing Wives Auxiliary, a benevolent fund for injured members of the NASCAR community.

Lynda Petty met Richard Petty in high school. They eloped in South Carolina and kept it a secret. They were waiting until Richard could afford an engagement ring. Richard told FOX Sports:

“I brought her home, dumped her out in the middle of town, she went into her house and I went home. It took me three or four months to get a diamond for her, and by the time we got the money, I bought a diamond and told everybody we were married.”

They got married on July 22, 1958, and they produced four children: Kyle Petty, Sharon Petty-Farlow, Lisa Petty-Luck, and Rebecca Petty-Moffit. The family resides in Richard’s hometown of Level Cross, North Carolina. Her grandson, Adam (Kyle’s son), was killed in a practice crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on May 12, 2000, at age 19.

Also Read: Lisa Petty Luck: Everything About Richard Petty’s Daughter

Over the past few years, the couple lived in Randleman where they operated Richard Petty Motorsports. Lynda is said to have started the Richard Petty Museum in the race shop in 1988. It was moved to nearby Randleman in 2003 due to space demands as the racing operation expanded.

It was announced the museum would be relocated to Level Cross at the site of the original Petty Engineering and Petty Enterprises shops. Lynda Petty was a devoted wife and mother. She ruled at home as she raised the children. She revealed that she disciplined her children.

Lynda said in a 2009 interview: “I was the one, and you can ask them … you’d ask Kyle, ‘Did your daddy ever whip you?’ and he’d say, ‘No, but my mother wailed the daylights out of me.”

“I disciplined and I never even bothered Richard with it. I didn’t want to put the fear of God in him that he was going to beat his children to death for doing something, so I took care of them and they loved him to death and still do.”

What Happened To Richard Petty’s Wife?

Richard Petty’s wife Lynda Petty died on 25 Mar 2014, at the age of 72, in Level Cross, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA. Her death happened after a long battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma. She died “peacefully” and the family released a 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.” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France made a statement:

“On behalf of the France family and everyone at NASCAR, I want to offer sincere condolences to the Petty family regarding the loss of their beloved matriarch, Lynda Petty. Through the years, Lynda became an integral part of the NASCAR landscape. We have lost a true friend, who will be missed each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Pettys throughout this difficult time.”

Richard and Lynda Petty were featured in the 2012 Duke Cancer Institute video where Lynda talked about her battle with cancer. She is survived by her loving husband Richard Petty; son, Kyle, and daughters Sharon and husband Terry Farlow; Lisa and husband Charlie Luck; Rebecca and husband Brian Moffitt.

Also Read: Rebecca Petty Moffit: Who Is Richard Petty’s Daughter?

Lynda Petty is also survived by her 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.