Joseph William Wright, 88
Joseph William Wright,
88, passed away, Tuesday, March 30, 2004, in Sandpoint, Idaho. A memorial gathering has been held.
Joe was born on Oct. 23, 1915 in Bradford, Pa., and moved to California when he was 3. Joe's parents were Margaret (Neil) and William Ewart Wright. He grew up and attended schools in northern California. Joe graduated from Berkeley High School and apprenticed at the Mare Island Navel Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif., from 1936-1940.
Joe met a beautiful young nursing student named Mary Wann on a blind date in San Francisco in 1940. Within three months they eloped and married in Reno, Nev., on March 16. They bought their first home together in Mill Valley and began a marriage that was to last 64 years.
In the United States Navy Joe was stationed on Guam during World War II supervising the repair of ships at Apra Harbor as a chief warrant officer. In 1947 he left the Navy, received his contractor's license, and opened Wright and Sons, a heating and sheet metal business, with his father. In 1952 Joe and Mary purchased land in Novato, California to build the family home. Eight years later they opened Wright Hardware in Novato where all of the children had the opportunity to work during high school. After selling the hardware store in 1968, Joe became a Realtor and broker, working in real estate until his retirement in 1985.
Joe was a big part of the fabric of life in his community; he worked on the planning and zoning commission, the local airport commission, Rotary, and was a long time member of the Novato Horseman's Association. He loved riding, hunting, and fishing and encouraged his children to do the same. After his retirement in 1985, Joe and Mary sold the treasured family home and moved to North Idaho to be near their children and spend more time fishing for kokanee.
Always up for adventure, Joe and Mary loved their winters traveling in the Southwest.
Springtime would find him back in Idaho to golf (Joe was a member of the local Elks Club), fish, garden, and assist with his children's various projects.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife Mary Wright of Sandpoint; two sons, Bill (Leslie) Wright of Clark Fork and Jim (Irene) Wright of Sonoma, Calif.; one daughter Linda (Mark) Heisel of Hope; seven grandchildren, Thomas (Nancy) McIntosh, Michael (Kaatje) Wright, Britt (Erik Perryman) Heisel, David Wright, Joe (Lora) Heisel, Matthew Wright, Eric Wright; three great-grandchildren, Jensen Heisel, Mathis Heisel, and Mieke Wright; and a cherished companion, his terrier, Molly. He was preceded in death by his sister Maxine Hinds and a son Richard Wright. Joe's passion was his family and he is deeply missed.
Memorial donations may be made to the Community Cancer Services, PO Box 2213, Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint was in charge of the arrangements. Please visit Joe's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.