George Wright, of Largo, Fla., and formerly of Pierceton, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., at the age of 67.
He was born in Prestonsburg, Ky., on Feb. 4, 1957, to Mollie Rose and Henry Wright. George graduated from Whitko High School in 1975 where he played basketball, football and softball. He loved sports and continued playing softball for a traveling league from Warsaw. One of George’s most prized possessions was a special cabinet his dad made to show off the more than 50 trophies he had received.
George enjoyed life. In his younger years, he played, coached and refereed basketball and softball. He was a jokester. He had so many one liners, often something quirky but always funny. Many times he was the brunt of his own jokes. Phil Cartwright, his best friend and brother-in-law, spent hours working together, talking, watching TV (especially UK basketball) and enjoying the beaches in Florida with him. Going out to eat was one of his favorite things to do. On his trips back to see his family, he always contacted Dave and Dolly Bumbaugh and Dave and Rene Williams for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
George had a lot of family support raising his two sons, Ben (Kacey) Wright, of Bremen; and Andy (Deb) Wright, of Pierceton. He was very proud of his boys and was often seen when they wrestled in high school and found in the dugouts when the boys played softball. George really loved that Ben and Andy are very involved in each other’s lives, playing golf, euchre and poker together and having family cookouts. Their children, Raygan (Andy), Addison, Grant and Logan Wright (Ben) were his joy in life. He often talked about how blessed he was to have such an amazing family.
George was extremely proud to have lived most of his life within just a few miles of his three brothers: Phil (Betty), Larry (Becky) and Lester (Rhoda) Wright; and three sisters: Bernice (Rosco) Howard, Liz (Tom) Keirn and Henrietta (Jack) Bumgardner, along with his many nieces and nephews. He and his brothers went on fishing trips to Wisconsin several years where more great stories of fun and pranks were told than the number of fish caught. He loved that his sisters spoiled him; fixing him meals, being by his side whenever he needed them and always ready for laughs together.
George worked at DePuy Orthopedics in Warsaw for most of his working life where he had been a machinist and a shipping clerk. He was often referred to as “Hillbilly” at work since he was proud of his Kentucky heritage. His coworkers were some of his best friends. After struggling with medical problems for several years, George retired in 2015.
George married Sondra Wright on Jan. 3, 2015, in Warsaw. They had a long distance romance from Indiana to Ohio for over 20 years putting hundreds of miles and hours on the road before getting married. George enjoyed being a part of the lives of Sonnie's children: Carrie (Jason) Sorenson, Jennifer (Mike) Ray, Angie Maynard and Jody (Angie) Hansel and a PaPaw to their grandchildren: Marina Keels, Huntar Newsome, Josh Maynard, Connor, Landon and Logan Hansel, Alex and Carson Sorenson and Lexi Baldwin; along with great-grandchildren: Bella, Ryan, Gabriel and Riley. They bought a home in a mobile home park in Largo, Fla., where they had friends from all over the United States and Canada. He loved the beaches and the warm Florida winters, but would always refer to Indiana as his home because that’s where his family lives.
George loved music, especially The Beatles and Eric Clapton! He collected over 500 albums and knew artists and the year the song was released. Sometimes he could even tell you where he was and what he was doing when he heard the music for the first time.
George had a couple of rough years beginning two years ago when he learned he had Parkinson’s disease and then throat cancer. He passed away from respiratory failure and cardiac arrest while in the hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Bernice.
A time for celebrating George’s life and visiting with his family and friends will be held at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, on Friday, Nov. 1 from 4-7 p.m. A church service officiated by Pastor Ward Etsie Allen will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Free United Baptist Church, 7035 S. Ind. 13, Pierceton, followed by burial in Sidney Cemetery.
Donations to Free United Baptist Church, 7035 S. State Route 13, Pierceton, IN 46562 may be made in lieu of flowers.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.