RICHLAND, Ore. — William Ernest Wright, known as Bill to all who knew him, of Richland, Ore. passed away on Feb. 10th, 2024, after complications from surgery. A Celebration of Bill’s Life with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 – 11 a.m. at the Christian Church in Richland, Ore. Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck reception to be held immediately following at the church.
Bill was born on June 6th, 1946, to Margaret Elaine Wright and Ernest Wright in St. John, Kan. After Bill graduated from high school in 1964, he attended college for two years at Southwest Missouri State. He entered the Air Force on June 6th, 1966, and spent two years in Turkey with the Air Force Security Service. Upon his discharge he traveled to Oregon where he met the love of his life, Penny Williams at Oregon State University. They married on Aug. 19th, 1971. Bill and Penny went on to have four children, Juniper, Melissa, Josy and Scott.
Bill had many different occupations throughout his life. He worked as a machinist, worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation, farmed family property in Kansas, and ended his work career in the automobile services industry.
In 2009, Bill retired and spent his time helping family and friends, growing enormous gardens, and fixing all manner of things. He loved being outdoors enjoying the activities of hiking, backpacking, camping and fly fishing. He was a lifelong Kansas Jayhawk fan, finding enormous enjoyment in watching, cheering for, and talking about their basketball team. He and Penny delighted in exploring the world together, leading to a 6-month trip across Europe and taking any available moment to explore all of Oregon. Bill was insatiably curious about everything and everyone he ever met and never met a conversation he couldn’t finish.
He was pre-deceased by his parents Margaret and Ernest Wright; his daughter Juniper Ann; niece Christina Tunteri; and nephew Isaac Tunteri.
Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years Penny Wright; his daughters Melissa Blanchard (husband Reid) and Josy Wright as well as his son Scott Wright (wife Hannah); grandsons Eliot and Brady; granddaughters Hazel, Avery, Rowan, Rylee, and Ryane; sisters Gail Wright and Alice Olivier; nieces Sherry, Lori, Emily, Stacey and Emma; nephews Chris, Evan, Alex, and Gabriel; great nephews and nieces, Tess, Brianna, Emily, Harrison, Chandler, Merritt, Leif, Leilah, and Rosie. Also, by his much-loved mother-in-law Elma Ziegler.
For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Bill, the family suggests either the Eagle Valley Ambulance or to the Eagle Valley EMT’s (Continuing Ed & training) through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, Or. 97834. Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home
P.O. Box 543
Halfway, OR 97834
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 15, 2024
