mfbarnes Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Last night we lost a great driver, a great friend, and a true champion. Ralph "Nolan" Wren lost his battle with cancer and died last night at the medical center. We thought we were going to lose him in the 80's, but never the quitter, Nolan fought back and lived another 25 plus years. well he took the white flag last night and finished the race with his head held high. God Bless you Nolan, the world just won't be the same without you. I will update the forum with arrangement details as they become available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Ralph Nolan Wren, 65 of Iola, passed away on Tuesday, in Houston. Funeral services are set for 10 am, Friday Sept. 30 at the Iola Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the Zion Cemetery. Visitation hours are 5 pm to 8 pm on Thursday at the Madisonville Funeral Home. Mr. Wren was born in Navasota on March 19, 1946 to Wiley & Estelle (Adams) Wren. He lived all of his life in Iola and had been a member of the Iola Missionary Baptist Church since March 22, 1964. Mr. Wren was the previous owner of Wren’s Wheel Alignment in Bryan. He was a Mason and a member of the Bedias Masonic Lodge #651 AM & FM and the Iola Lodge where he was past Master. He enjoyed restoring old cars, but his passion was racing sprint cars and watching his sons race. Mr. Wren was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, George Lee, Norman “Preacher” and Ann Reed. He is survived by his wife, Nora Wren of Iola; sons, Ralph Wren & wife, Terri of College Station, Troy Wren & wife, Paula of Kurten; sister, Sue Jones & husband, Jim of South Houston; sisters-in-law, Olga Portales & husband, Ray of Bedias, Jeani Stedward & Jake of Bedias; brothers-in-law, Doyle Evans & Debbie of College Station, James Evans & Becky of Iola, Ronnie Evans & Linda of Iola; four grandchildren, Kyle Wren, Jordan Wren, Jacee Wren and Tara Hackworth; one great grandson, Brayden Hackworth; numerous nieces & nephews and many friends. and the Iola Lodge where he was past Master. Visitation Thursday September 29, 2011, 5:00 pm - 8:00pm at Madisonville Funeral Home Funeral Services Friday September 30, 2011, 10:00 am. at Iola Missionary Baptist Church Burial Friday September 30, 2011 at Zion Cemetery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Nolan at Moody and Clary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorcoranSuperMod Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Sorry to get the sad news about Nolan. I was there when he made his entrance into the sport and even before he had top notch equipment he was always a tough competitor ,but even more than that he was one of the most super nice and likeable men that I ever met. Rest in peace Nolan and may God bless your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96er Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Nolan at Big H in 1986 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96er Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Nolan At East Bay Raceway in Tampa, FL 1987 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deereman Posted October 2, 2011 Report Share Posted October 2, 2011 Watched Nolan racethat Bordens(I think it was )dwarf car at Moody & Clary in Navasota R.I.P. Nolan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Last night we lost a great driver, a great friend, and a true champion. Ralph "Nolan" Wren lost his battle with cancer and died last night at the medical center. We thought we were going to lose him in the 80's, but never the quitter, Nolan fought back and lived another 25 plus years. well he took the white flag last night and finished the race with his head held high. God Bless you Nolan, the world just won't be the same without you. I will update the forum with arrangement details as they become available. Sorry to hear that. Sad day........................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdobber5B Posted October 13, 2011 Report Share Posted October 13, 2011 Raced many laps with Nolan good guy always friendly and fun to be around. God be with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twren Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 Dad's last race with me at Waco. Dirtdobber5B may I ask where and what car you drove? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdobber5B Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I drove the number 5b at Navasota. in the earl 70's. I have pictures of all of us on the track at Mooy Clary Speedway and Heart of Texas I'll try to get posted. Ive tried three times so far my computer locks up and I loose them. Let me ask you about Frankie and Clifford Carter Pappy Yargo and was it Bubba Snook? I read an artical some where that some one boasted That Iola Texas was the racing capitol of Texas. It had more race car drivers per capita than any wheres else in the state. Oh lets not forget Jimmy Mc Kenny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twren Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Frankie and Clifford Carter are still in Iola, Bubba is around there somewhere as well. I believe Pappy Yargo has passed and of course Pappy's grand son and I was just talking about Jimmy this last weekend. Frankie and Clifford follow their nephew Will around the Houston area track between Battleground to Willis. Talented young driver. If anyone has some pictures of dad. I would love to see them and you can email them to me at twren@tamu.edu. I will also post them on here if you want me to. Mr. CorcoranSuperMod can I ask what car you drove against dad? Thanks everyone for the kind words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorcoranSuperMod Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Frankie and Clifford Carter are still in Iola, Bubba is around there somewhere as well. I believe Pappy Yargo has passed and of course Pappy's grand son and I was just talking about Jimmy this last weekend. Frankie and Clifford follow their nephew Will around the Houston area track between Battleground to Willis. Talented young driver. If anyone has some pictures of dad. I would love to see them and you can email them to me at twren@tamu.edu. I will also post them on here if you want me to. Mr. CorcoranSuperMod can I ask what car you drove against dad? Thanks everyone for the kind words. twren: Believe it or not my main ride from 69 through mid 71 was the number 4 pictured with your dad in the above photo. I think he purchased it in late 71. Prior to that we competed weekly at M/C and pretty much all over TX where they would occasionally run an open comp. [ or run what you brung]. The car was Red & white and carried the number 18. I occasionally drove the # 19 Ragin Cajin super and the # 4 super. A couple of post in this section pretty much explains it. { Moody/Clary 1968 --- 71 and Cleveland Speedway 1966 --68] The first memory I have of Nolan was a blue # 4 super with chrysler power, not sure where, maybe Huntsville Raceway? I remember him being a nice kid with a lead foot and that part never changed. I continued to follow Nolan after I left the sport. I was proud to call him my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twren Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Thanks for the kind words and I remember the blue number 4 car even though I wasnt born. I will try and post a picture of it on here in a day or so. Thanks, Troy Wren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twren Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Here is the firs tcar that started our family's racing tradition. I believe it was the blue four car evreyone is talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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