Wallace Elston "Wally" Booth

WALLACE "Wally" ELSTON BOOTH – Loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
Wallace "Wally" Elston Booth, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, passed away on November 12, 2024, after an aggressive battle with multiple myeloma.
Born September 27, 1937 in Huntington, West Virginia, to Elston and Lois Booth, Wally always enjoyed learning and creating. As a child, Wally spent summers on his grandfather's farm in West Virginia and continued to work on the farm throughout his life.
After attending one semester of college at Marshall University, Wally and his family moved to Michigan. Once in Michigan, Wally served in the U.S. Army Reserve, sold life insurance door-to-door, and worked for Cadillac Motor Car; initially as a hobby, Wally began racing cars. After first experiencing limited success on the Detroit Dragway, Wally started building his own engines and forged a hall of fame racing career across the country.
Wally was a hard-working and successful, yet humble, race-car driver, winning multiple NHRA championships, including the US Nationals. He was widely recognized for his innovative engine-building techniques and was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2013. Later in life, he owned and operated an engine-building business with business partner Richard Arons, Booth Arons Racing Enterprises, and later an aftermarket parts distribution business, Booth Automotive.
Wally had many talents and hobbies. He was a bass singer for the original Booth Brothers quartet. He enjoyed farming and even bred black Angus cattle. Wally loved golfing with his sons. In retirement, Wally dabbled with several potential new hobbies including cooking, juicing, and walking; however, his most noteworthy retirement interest and hobby was certainly lawns and yard work. In his 80s, Wally attended programs through Michigan State University Turfgrass Management; he would routinely seek advice on grasses and related topics through the MSU Extension program and the Oakland Hills' Country Club Director of Agronomy; and he was eventually regarded as an impressive local source of yard knowledge, gaining the attention of neighbors hoping for better lawns too. Throughout retirement, Wally considered himself very fortunate to be able to spend considerable time with his grandchildren and family.
Despite many wins in the racing, farming, and turfgrass world, Wally would proudly tell you his greatest victory was in Jesus. Raised in a Christian home, Wally loved the Lord, attended church regularly (online later in life), and greatly enjoyed listening to his nephews, The Booth Brothers, harmonize hymns and melodies as they, too, praised God. Because he knew how much the Lord loved him, Wally loved others very well.
Beloved husband of Denise for nearly 42 years. Loving father of Phillip (Heidi), Brandon (Christy), Brett, and the late Karen Jean, who died in infancy. Dear grandfather to Justin (Liz), Adam (Carrie), and Katie Fainlight (Ben); Hunter, Elin, Westin, and Grayson; and great grandfather to Asher, Ezra, and Ethan. Also survived by siblings, Annette Akers (late David Akers) and Ronald "Ronnie" Booth (Priscilla). Wally is predeceased by his siblings Loretta Jean Booth, Charles Warren Booth (late Imogene), Reverend James Booth (late RuthAnn), and Wannie Frazier (late Donna), and his parents Elston and Lois Booth.
Family will receive friends on Friday, November 15, 4:00-8:00pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home (Vasu, Rodgers and Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 16, 10:00am at Woodside Bible Church- Royal Oak Campus, 3620 Rochester Rd., Royal Oak, MI 48073. Visitation at Church begins at 9:30am.
Burial with graveside prayers Saturday, November 16, 1:30pm, at White Chapel Cemetery, 621 W. Long Lake, Troy, 48098.