Willard M. Wright, of Knoxville, passed away on Jan. 17 at the age of 81.
Mr. Wright, who was a faithful Catholic and member of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was a family man and U.S. Army veteran. He retired from Bell Telephone Co. after 35 years of dedicated service in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
He tirelessly pursued the genealogy of the Wright family all the way back to 1707 in Glasgow, Scotland
Mr. Wright always will be remembered for his love of family, work ethic, and faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Edith Wright; brothers Bill and Garry Wright; and sister Brenda Driver.
Mr. Wright is survived by and will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of over 55 years, Theresa Wright; daughter Stacy Schreiber and husband Ed; son John M. Wright and wife Laura; granddaughters Chelsea Demasi and husband Vincent, Sofia Wright, and Gabriella Wright; great-grandson Giorgio Demasi; sister, Linda Wright Bell of Florida; aunt, Audrey DePriest of Virginia; and other extended family and friends.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Wright was celebrated on Jan. 26 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Father David Boettner serving as the celebrant.
Burial for Mr. Wright with service and military honors was at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville on Jan. 29. Donations in Mr. Wright’s memory can be made to Wounded Warriors Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.
