Mr. Wayne Thomas Nobile

Wayne was born November 10, 1939, in Fresno, CA, the son of George and Nadine Nobile. Wayne attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in the class of 1957. He then attended two years at California State University, Fresno.

Wayne married Merna Lea Cordy in October of 1960, and together they raised three children, Lori, Ron, and Mike. These children gave them seven grandchildren, Shannon, Shellene, Sara, Dean, Dylan, Jacob Thomas, and Emily, and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Cora, and Clayton. With a love of performance vehicles, floating or rolling, Wayne operated a marine sales and service business in Fresno until the late 1970s, when he retired to a career of building street rods. In the past 30 plus years, Wayne has meticulously restored, reconstructed, modified, and hot-rodded more than a dozen award-winning street rods and vehicles, with his obvious favorites being 1950 Mercurys. Each project was performed without haste or concern for the time required but with a goal of complete attention to detail.

Friends have commented that they knew of no one as meticulous, deliberate, determined, or thorough, in every detail of the building of street rods as Wayne. The prime directive for his quest included beauty, comfort, reliability, performance, and safety. Without hesitation Wayne would modify frames and fit oversized, modern, and performance components or creature comforts into the automobiles of yesteryear. The results of his work are beautiful custom vehicles which are appreciated today and will be so for the years to come by all who love street rods.

His work was recognized this year at the Hot Rods Fresno Tower Car Classic when he was awarded the "Hot Rod Legend" trophy for 2014.

While street rods were of great importance to Wayne, they had to share Wayne's heart with his family and his friends. These family members and friends grieve today at the unbearable loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend, whose presence could fill a room even if he were there alone. His untimely passing is leaving great voids in all our hearts and in many rooms.

Wayne will be watching with you when next you see a beautiful street rod of feel your chest swell as you hear the refined rumble of a performance motor.

And he will smile with you as you remember the times of your life with him.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Clovis Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.