Floyd Mack Wyatt Jr.

Floyd was born on November 11, 1928, in Salisbury, North Carolina and grew up on his family's small farm near Salisbury, in Granite Quarry. He spent his boyhood fishing, hunting, riding their horse Billy and helping with farming and milking the cow. When Floyd was 13 or 14, the family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. At Baltimore’s Patterson Park High School, he competed in track (fastest in the 220 and best in broad jump). In June 1946, on the day after he graduated from high school, Floyd joined the U. S. Army Air Corps. After training in Colorado, he was stationed for two years at the Panama Canal. He worked in the finance department, and in his free time rode his motorcycle and gained a fondness for mangos. In July 1949, after his Army Air Corps service ended, Floyd attended the University of Maryland on the GI Bill. He was in the ROTC program and gained the ROTC rank of Colonel and was third wing commander. Floyd graduated from the University of Maryland in June 1954 and received a permanent commission in the U.S. Air Force. Floyd was training to be a pilot, but an undetected inner-ear issue prevented him from “spinning the plane”, so Floyd received his honorable discharge. It was at the University of Maryland that Floyd met his future wife, Carol Crabtree. They were married on November 21, 1953, and spent 68 years together until Carol went to be with Jesus in October 2022.

Floyd and Carol started their lives together in Maryland and over the years they lived in many different parts of the country including southern California, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee. Floyd worked in both construction and in sales. He worked as a carpenter, roofer and subcontractor in places like Bowie, Maryland and Levittown, New Jersey in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s; as a roofer in Florida in the mid to late 1970’s; and as a steel worker in Tennessee on high-rise buildings in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. With his likeable personality, Floyd was also a great salesman. In the 1960’s he was a new car salesman at several southern California car dealerships (Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth) and was typically the top salesman at each dealership. In 1968/1969 he sold the most new Ford Mustangs in San Diego. In 1988, Floyd joined Carol working at Mayo Garden Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. At Mayo’s he was the “Top Sales Person” and “Overall Sales Person of the Year” every year for the 14 years he worked there -- 1988 to 2001. In 2002 both Floyd and Carol retired and moved to Richmond, Texas (near Houston) and lived with their daughter Sandra and her family.

Floyd was physically very strong, smart, especially in math and science, adventurous and a bit mischievous. He loved traveling and the outdoors, like hiking in the Smokey Mountains with Carol on their days off work. He loved playing with his kids, then his grandkids. He loved everyday time spent together with his wife Carol. But most of all Floyd was very religious and his devotion to and love for Jesus guided all aspects of his life. He didn’t focus on joining a specific church or even a specific denomination, but instead had a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior. He read his bible and could quote entire chapters from memory. He listened to his favorite preachers, like Billy Graham, and Christian songs on the radio. He loved to play old-time Christian songs on the piano and his guitar especially with his family singing along. He sought to apply what he learned and teach his family, especially showing love and being forgiving. Floyd found in Jesus’ words the truth for all circumstances: in daily living, “That you love one another, as I have loved you” and “Forgive, and you will be forgiven”; in times of need, “If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it“; in witnessing “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me”; and in life’s purpose “That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We are forever grateful for what he taught us about Jesus and love.

Floyd was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Carol, his parents Mack and Flora Wyatt, and his five brothers and sisters. Those left to honor and cherish his memory are his children, Sandra and husband Ken Rivet, and Mark and wife Shari Wyatt; grandchildren, Michael and wife Katheryn Rivet, Kelly and husband Charles McRae, James Wyatt and Andrew Wyatt; great grandchildren Aiden Ridgway and Brennan Rivet; brother-in-law Randall Crabtree, special friend Nancy Ruffner and numerous nieces and nephews.

Floyd will be buried in the Houston National Cemetery. We look forward to seeing him again in heaven.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AmericanHeritageFuneralHome.com for the Wyatt family.