Richard Wise “Dick” Wright, 81, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. He was born in the village of Morris, New York, on March 8, 1933, the seventh child of Charlotte E. Cowen Wright and Harold A. Wright.
Mr. Wright leaves behind a legacy of service to God, his country, and community. He was ordained as a deacon of Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1962 and also served as Sunday School Superintendent for over two decades.
He served his country during the Korean War, with his military service beginning at Randolph Air Force Base in 1950. It was during this time he became friends with J. C. King, who introduced Richard to his wife Olene. After they married, he was stationed at McDill AFB in Tampa, FL, until honorably discharged in 1960.
After moving his family to Fulton in 1960, he was a salesman for the Tom’s company for approximately 13 years.
In 1973, he resumed his miltary service by enlisting in the Mississippi Army National Guard, where he served until his retirement in 1993.
Also, in 1973, Mr. Wright was chosen by the Fulton mayor to establish the first Civil Defense Agency (later Emergency Management Agency) for the City of Fulton and Itawamba County. He served his community in this capacity until his retirement in 1996. He was a lifetime member of the Mississippi Civil Defense/Emergency Management Association. He had been an officer in the Building Officials Association of Mississippi and held membership in the Southern Building Code Congress International.
While he will be remembered for many acts of service, family and friends will remember his generosity. He loved to bake, and during the holidays, he baked and gave away countless loaves of bread and dozens of cookies and pies. Visitors to his home seldom left empty-handed.
In his later years, he looked forward to the annual gospel singing in Hominy Valley, NC, enjoying the music and fellowship with his family and the Primitive Quartet.
Services will be at 2 p. m. Friday, June 6, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Royce Hawkins officiating. Burial will be in the Itawamba Memorial Gardens.
He is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Olene Clouse Wright, whom he married on December 3, 1952; two daughters, Donna Guth (David) of Tremont and Lisa Brown (Jim) of Amory; his grandchildren, Amanda Minichino (Adam) of Columbus, Charlotte Leathers (Brandon), of Tremont, Anna Marie Dunn (Mike) of Tuscaloosa, AL, Lee Brown (Sierra) and Hunter Brown, both of Fulton, and Joey Brown of Starkville; his great-grandchildren, Madi Guth, Austin Minichino, Abbie Leathers, Azie Kate Leathers, Bryan Lee, and James L. Brown, III “Bullet”; one brother, John B. Wright (Ben) of Port Orange, FL.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Marvin Wright and Charles L. Wright; and three sisters, Pauline N. Hutton, Margaret Wilbrecht, and Florence Hudson.
Pallbearers will be Jim Brown, Joey Brown, Lee Brown, David Guth, Brandon Leathers, and Mike Huling. His long-time friend J. C. King will be an honorary pallbearer.
Visitation will continue until service time today at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at mcneecemorrisfuneralhome.com
