Rev. Wright died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at a Temple hospital.
He was born on May 14, 1925, to William Riley and Artie Mae Wright in Ellis County. He graduated from Ennis High School in 1942. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving with the Pacific submarine fleet, 1942-1946. He received a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1949; he graduated from the Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth in 1953, and later earned a master’s degree of divinity from the Baptist Seminary in 1968. He was called to his first church in 1951, at Elm Grove Baptist Church, and later pastored at churches in Smiley; Woodsboro; Twin Falls, Idaho; Corpus Christi and San Antonio. He spent a year teaching English at the Bejing Institute of Technology in China, before retiring in 1988. He volunteered with the J.A.I.L. Ministry and was active in the Central Texas Chapter of Baylor Alumni, receiving their Alumnus of the Year in 1996.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marilyn Wright of Killeen; two sons, James Wright of Belton and Damon Wright of Killeen; a daughter, Lea Criswell of Houston; a brother, Benjamin Wright of Dallas; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 802 N. Second, Killeen, Texas 76541 or to the J.A.I.L. Ministry, 211 E. Central, Belton, Texas 76513.
Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service Friday at the church.
Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen is in charge of arrangements.
