HOWARD WAYNE WRIGHT - JUNE 2, 1929 - FEBRUARY 27, 2013
 

Funeral services for Howard Wayne Wright, 83, will be held at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel, at 500 East 3rd, Portales, NM on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2:00pm with Rev. Randy Rankin officiating. Internment will follow in the Portales Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday morning at Wheeler Mortuary with the family present at 1:00pm. Pallbearers will be Josh Bradley, John Danforth (great nephew), David Motter, Bob Ritchie, Robbie Ritchie and Mark Wright. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bob Collette (friend), Doyle Howerton (friend), Kent Reed (friend) and Dick Ribble (nephew). In lieu of flowers, the family requests, donations in memory of Howard Wright may be made to Santa Fe Trails Assistant Living and Memory Care, 402 S. Colonial Dr., Cleburne, TX 76033.

Howard Wayne Wright passed into his eternal home with Jesus on February 27, 2013 in Cleburne, TX. Howard was born on June 2, 1929 in Nashville, TN to Tedia Mae and Howard S. Wright. His family moved to Toledo, Ohio when he was in 3rd grade.

He graduated from high school in 1947 and enlisted in the US Air Force in 1950. While he was stationed at Sandia AFB in Albuquerque, NM, he met and married Betty Jo South from Portales, NM on December 24, 1951 at the First Baptist Church, Portales. Howard was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1954 while he and Betty were stationed at Travis Air Force Base, CA in the 3083rd Aviation Depot Group, known as Travis’ “Secret City”.

Howard, Betty and their baby daughter left CA and moved to his hometown, Toledo, where their son was born. Betty taught elementary school and Howard worked on the Toledo Fire Department as a fireman and on the Rescue Squad. He graduated from the University of Toledo in 1964 with a BS degree in Science. The family moved to Roswell, NM in 1964 where Howard held several different positions in the Roswell Independent School District. He taught at Mesa Middle School his first year with the district. When Goddard High School opened in 1965, he transferred there and taught physics, science and was the golf coach for 5 years. The golf team of 1969 won the state championship under his coaching. He was promoted to assistant principal at Yucca Middle School until its closing. After Yucca’s closing he was the planetarium director for the RISD. During summers, he attended Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM and in 1969 earned a Master’s Degree in Science. He held other positions during his teaching career such as principal at Floyd High School and math and science teacher at Hagerman High School. He retired from teaching in 1988.

Shortly after his beloved wife, Betty, passed into eternity, Howard moved from Roswell to Cleburne, TX to live near his daughter, Valerie. He moved into Santa Fe Trails Assistant Living Facility in 2010. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Roswell and missed his Sunday School Class after he moved to Cleburne. He enjoyed Christian fellowship at Cleburne Bible Church and the Sunday morning service at Santa Fe Trails.

Howard had many hobbies such as hunting, fishing, photography, restoring old cars, rock collecting & polishing, silver jewelry making, bowling and golfing. He competed and earned medals in the Senior Olympics events across the country in bowling. He was an active member of the Rock Hound Club in Roswell. His favorite hobby was spending time with his 5 grandchildren. He loved every moment and every activity with his grandchildren. He was patient, kind, fun-loving and always had a positive outlook on life. Howard was a bright spot and a blessing to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, residents and staff at Santa Fe Trails. They are comforted in knowing he is in the presence of Christ for eternity.

He was preceded into eternity by his parents; a sister, Jean Wright; two brothers, Jerry and Jim Wright and his wife of 56 years, Betty.

Howard was a beloved husband, daddy, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor. Survivors include a daughter, Valerie Jo Wright Ritchie and her husband Bob of Cleburne, TX; a son, Mark Wayne Wright and his wife Desiree (Knudsen) of Russellville, AR; five grandchildren: Erika Wright of Nashville, TN; Ingrid and David Motter of Dallas, TX; Annie and Josh Bradford of Russellville, AR; Robbie Wayne Ritchie of Minneapolis, MN; and Shelby Jo Ritchie of Abilene, TX; one great grandchild, Elliot Mark Motter; two brothers, Sam Wright and his wife Bea of Pioneer, OH, Nick Wright and his wife Kathy of Kailua Kona, HI; two sisters, Joyce Wright Douglas of Toledo, OH, Joanne Wright Coakley and her husband Tim of Toledo, OH and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were under the directions of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales, (575) 356-4455, http://www.wheelermortuary.net