Samuel D. Wright's Obituary
Samuel D. Wright, age eighty-six, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died Monday, December 3, 2007, at Presbyterian Hospital. Born June 6, 1921 in Findlay, Illinois, Sam was the son of the late D.D. and Mary Wright. Like his father before him and his son years later, Sam received a degree in Electrical Engineering. His college education at the University of Illinois was interrupted by his service in Troop C, 32nd Cavalry, Reconn Squad of the United States Army, in World War II, including the battles of Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and he returned to school to complete his degree 1947. Sam seldom spoke of his wartime experience, but he was strongly patriotic and proud of his service to his country, and was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion. Following graduation, Sam began his career with Central Illinois Public Service in Springfield, Illinois, before marrying Hettie Robinett in 1963 and moving to Syracuse, New York to work for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. In 1979, he moved his family to Charlotte to work in Systems Planning with Duke Power Company, from which he retired in 1994 at the age of seventy-two. Sam was passionate about music, and was an accomplished clarinetist, saxophonist, and pianist. During the last twenty-five years of his life he sang bass in his church choir at Providence United Methodist Church. Perhaps more importantly, he passed his love of classical music to his children and grandchildren. Sam was also passionate about caring for the earth and appreciating its beauty, and shared that love with those that knew him. He believed in service to the community, and for the past ten years he coordinated a tutoring program for students at Piney Grove Elementary, serving as a tutor himself as well. Sam was a man of dignity and integrity, and a man of whom his family is proud. In addition to his wife of forty-four years, Hettie, Sam is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Susan Wright, and grandchildren, Wesley, Audrey and Victoria; his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Nathan Rantala, and grandchildren, James and Peter; several nieces, two grand-nephews and their families. Sam was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Lundeen and brothers-in-law, Eugene Lundeen and James Robinett. Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2007, in the Robinett Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Hartville, Missouri. Return to top
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