Charles H. Thomas, a retired Mass Transit Administration dispatcher and a stock car racing enthusiast, died of renal failure Saturday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. He was 80 and lived in Delta.

Mr. Thomas was born in Baltimore and moved with his family to New York City. In the early 1930s, the family returned to Essex, where he attended Kenwood High School.

Mr. Thomas was a welder before becoming a bus driver for Rosedale Passenger Lines in the 1940s. Later, he was an MTA dispatcher for many years before retiring in 1980.

In the 1950s and 1960s, cars he owned were raced at Dorsey Speedway, Mason-Dixon Speedway and Ritchie Speedway.

He was a member of Bryansville United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir and was a former head of the board of trustees.

He was a member of Delta Senior Center, where he played pinochle and took bus trips. He enjoyed repairing cars and helping family members and friends with home projects.

Mr. Thomas was married for many years to the former Marie Muth, who died in 1981.

Services were held Tuesday in Delta.

He is survived by a brother-in-law, Joseph Anastasi of Cockeysville; a sister-in-law, Edna Thomas of Towson; five nephews; and four nieces.