E. J. Wright

A service to celebrate the life of E. J. Wright of Longview will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview on Monday, February 6, 2012 at eleven in the morning with the Reverend Doctor Kenneth Hall officiating. Interment will be at Rosewood Mausoleum under the direction of Rader Funeral Home. Mr. Wright died on Thursday, February 2, 2012. Mr. Wright was born Ernest John Wright in Sherman, Texas on September 3, 1922 to DeWitt and Bertha Blackwell Wright and attended Southmayd School. Mr. Wright married the love of his life, Martha Elizabeth Turner, on October 17, 1942 in Sherman. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was assigned to a Construction Battalion in the Philippines. It was during this military service that Mr. Wright became an electrician; a trade that he practiced throughout his military and civilian career. In 1948 at the end of the war E.J. and Martha moved to Longview where he began work for R.G. LeTourneau. In 1956 E.J. continued his career by joining Trailmobile Industries. In 1981 E.J. accepted an assignment to transfer manufacturing equipment from Trailmobile to a subsidiary company in Durban, South Africa. The equipment transfer and installation project allowed him to live in South Africa and to make personal and business friendships that have remained strong until today. Upon returning from South Africa he joined First National Bank as facility engineer and remained with the bank until his retirement. Central in E.J. Wright's life were his family and his church. He was a devout Christian and active member of First Baptist Church in Longview for over 60 years, where he served as a Deacon, Sunday School Departmental Director, Training Union Director and usher. He had a true servant's heart and expressed this in his faithful service to First Baptist Church's hospital visitation ministry, Meals on Wheels, and numerous Baptist mission construction activities throughout the United States. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha Wright; his son and daughter-in-law Ray and Jamie Wright of Longview; his daughter and son-in-law Ann and John White of Dallas; two grandchildren, Jeff Wright of Longview and Jennifer Wright of Plano; three siblings, Juanita Atkinson of Denison, Jimmy Wright of Colbert, Oklahoma, and Franklin Wright of Sherman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, DeWitt and Bertha Wright and three of his brothers; Robert Wright, DeWitt Wright Jr., and Carl Ray Wright. The family wishes to express grateful appreciation to Paula Davis, Debbie Marberry, and Glenda Rutledge for the care they lovingly gave to Mr. Wright during his final years. The family also thanks the staff of Beacon Hospice for the comfort they provided in Mr. Wright's final hours. The family asks that any remembrance of the life of E. J. Wright be through donation to the Organ Restoration Fund of First Baptist Church in Longview, the Alzheimer's Association, or a charity of your choice.

E. J. Wright

August 3, 1922 - February 2, 2012