Walter Terrance Dumas

Walter Terrance Dumas Sr, age 94, of Mobile, Alabama, passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Mobile. A lovingly devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather, Terry was born in Hurley, Mississippi, to Walter Leon Dumas & Hazel Jones Dumas on February 11, 1932. He married Azilee Joyce Nettles on June 20, 1953, in Mobile. A renowned “Forty Niner,” he graduated from Murphy High School as that decade came to an end.

He enlisted in the National Guard and stood ready for the call during the Korean Conflict. Working his way through school as a young husband, father and budding commercial loan officer with First National Bank, he continued his education with financial certifications from Louisiana State University and other banking institutions. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from Spring Hill College in 1961. After a 20-year career as a banker, he became a business owner and spent the next 40 years providing jobs and service to the community in the commercial truck equipment sector. Like many teenagers during and after World War II, he enjoyed dancing to the music of the Big Band Era. It was a common sight to see Joyce and Terry swing dancing or cutting a rug with a wicked jitterbug, which was rumoured to be the envy of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Terry loved good music, good food, college football, sports cars and the company of friends. An appreciation of the outdoors developed into passions for travel, hunting, fishing or a spirited round of golf at points the world over. What he lacked in expertise, he more than made up for with camaraderie. A deep sense of faith guided Terry in his concern for the elderly and those who were alone or without family. In each case this concern led him to welcome the less fortunate into his own large and loving family, a trait that became a hallmark for generations to follow. All along, and for over 73 years of marriage, he was accompanied by the love of his life, Joyce.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Hazel; brothers Patrick, Bill, Joseph, Robert and son Patrick Glenn.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Dumas; sister, Katherine (Tom) Deas; daughter, Pamela (Bill) Allen and son, Walter (Erin) Dumas Jr; grandchildren, Sean (Tinia) Allen, Ryan (Brandi) Allen, Cole (Heather) Allen, and Isabella Dumas; seven great-grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 Friday, February 27, 2026 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chapel with Reverend Brad Clark officiating. Arrangements are by Radney Funeral Home.