William Wright

William Clark Wright 65, of Waco passed away Monday, April 1, 2013. Services will be 10 am Saturday, April 6, at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 9820 Chapel Road, Waco, Texas 76712. Burial will follow at Lorena Cemetery. There will be a Catholic Rosary at 5:30pm Friday, with a visitation from 6-8 pm at Pecan Grove Funeral Home 3124 Robinson Dr.
William (Bill) was born January 15th, 1948 at Fort Sill Army Base in Fort Sill, OK. Son of Col. Lyle H. Wright and Mary Elizabeth Aerl of Lorena, TX. He graduated high school in Enterprise, AL and married his first wife and high school sweetheart, Sylvia Teague, in 1968 while he was in the Navy. Their son, WIlliam Henry Wright was born in Ft. Rucker, AL in 1969. Bill served in the Navy from 1968-1972 and was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1972. Het met his second wife, Mary Ellen Kohler, while at college at Tarleton State University in 1974. They were married February 8, 1975 in Stephenville, TX while both were at school at Tarleton State University. After they married, they moved to Nacogdoches, TX where Bill studied Forestry at Stephen F. Austin University. He received his Bachelor's degree in Forestry on December 19, 1976, the same day their first son, Brian Wright, was born. After college, Bill took a job as a surveyor for Western Geophysical Oil Exploration Company. He surveyed on the north slope of Alaska and throughout the Rocky Mountains before settling with his family in Waco, TX in 1978. He took a job with Plantation Foods as a dispatcher from 1978-1989. The family moved to Lorena, TX in 1981. Their second son, Michael David Wright, was born August 11, 1982, followed closely by Daniel Louis Wright on October 6th, 1983.
Bill was a loving father and husband, an outdoorsman, and lover of nature. He loved to take his family on camping trips. He was an active member of his community and a proud Scout Master for Troop 462 where he mentored many young men to the honorable rank of Eagle Scout, including his son Daniel. He served as Chairman of The Eagle Board from 2002-present. He was a member of St. Jerome's Catholic Church and had a strong faith in God. Bill proudly helped many Veterans as a counselor in the Post Traumatic Stress Recovery progam at the Vetererns Administration Hospital in Waco, TX.
Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, listening to music, working on model trains, riding motorcycles, and was an accomplished wood worker. He enjoyed travelling, even once sailing a boat from Hawaii to Newport Beach, CA. He was a proud father and celebrated his sons' accomplishments enthusiastically. He was great listener and could talk to anyone about almost anything. He was a very kind and generous man and would do anything in his power to help people in need.
He is preceded in death by his father Col. Lyle H. Wright, brother Lyle Henry Wright Jr., brother Robert Charles Wright, and son Michael Wright.
He is survived by wife, Mary E. Wright of Waco, TX. Son, William Henry Wright, his wife Kat, and their daughter Teagan. Son Brian Wright, his wife, Sally Jaye, and their son Elijah. Son, Daniel Louis Wright. Brother Donald Wright. Mother Mary Elizabeth Wright. Sister-in-law, Kathy Wright and her children Josh Wright and Katie Fowler.
The family would like to thank the Veterans Administration Hospital, St. Jerome's Catholic Church, The Boy Scouts of America, Harley Davidson, and innumerable family and friends for their love and help.
Pallbearers will be William (Billy) Wright, Brian Wright, Daniel Wright, Don Savage, Don Bagby, and Bob Lemley.