John L.(Jack) Wright, Sr., 90, of Tifton died Monday, January 2, 2006 at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith, III will officiate with burial to follow in Oakridge Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be John Brownlee, Steve Brownlee, John L. Wright, III, Hank Pittman, Josh Bean and Clay Chester. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Kulbersh, Dr. Bill Bridges, Guy Blasingame, James Bowen, Richard Garrett, Dr. Joe Turner, Dan Griffin, Joe Riddle, Dr. Richard McCullough, Hugh Chandler, Glenn Whitley, Butch Coarsey, Joe Tinsley, George Lindstedt, Bob Reinhardt, Jerry Kunes, Ross Pittman, Harvey Hatcher, Jake Herring, Charles Powell, Billy Lankford, Butch Davis, Rogert Nalls, Tommy Cottle and Bill Trawick.
Mr. Wright was born on August 15, 1915 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the son of Ester Larkin and Earl Grant Wright, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn "Kitty" Webb Wright and three brothers, Bill, Dick and Bob Wright.
As a young man, Mr. Wright attended Milliken University and Drake University before deciding to join the military. The military career brought him to the South where he served as Flight Instructor at Spence Field in Moultrie until he volunteered to go overseas as a fighter pilot during World War II. During the war, he served as Squadron Commander for the 36th Fighter Group in Northern France, Central Europe, The Ardennes and Rhineland. During these campaigns, he was decorated with The Distinguished Flying Cross with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Eleven Oak Leaf Clusters and numerous citations for bravery and heroism. He later served as Base Commander at Turner Field in Albany during the Korean War and received an honorable discharge in July 1958.
Upon returning to civilian life, he started Wright Plant Comnpany, which later became Wright-Bowen Plant Company with James Bowen as his partner. He was one of the original members of the Tifton Development Authority, Past President of the Tift County Chamber of Commerce, a partner in Tifton Insurance Agency, a licensed real estate broker, a member of the First Baptist Church, where he was an active choir member for many years, and a member of the Springhill Country Club.
Hs is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, John L. Jr. and Lanita Wright of Cocoa, FL; two daughters and sons-in-law: Kay and Ronald Brownlee of Tifton and Mary Ann and Gary Simmons of Tifton; seven grandchildren, John Brownlee and wife Kim of Tifton, Steve Brownlee of Savannah, Beth Brownlee Chester and husband Clay of Albany, Mary Kathryn Simmons of Atlanta, Mikel Simmons Bean and husband Josh of Statesboro, John L. Wright, III and wife Gena of Cairo, Hannah Elaine Wright of Thomasville; and three great grandchildren, Davis Wright Bronwlee, Garrett Lanier Brownlee and John Dawson Brownlee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund at 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794 or to the Tift Regional Hospital Foundation.