Elba Clyde WRIGHT

WRIGHT, TAYLOR, OPDYKE, BENNETT, SANFORD, SANDAGE, JOHNSTON, CHRUMA, WEBB, MAY, GAUER, FERGUSON, PENCE, HUFFMAN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2009 at 17:39:20

OBITUARY.

Elba Clyde WRIGHT, son of William Sylvester and Margaret Elizabeth (TAYLOR) WRIGHT, was born March 14, 1884 at Mount Moriah, Missouri and departed this life May 11, 1962 at the age of 78 years, one month and 27 days, in Mount Ayr, his home for the past fifty years.

In 1905, he was united in marriage to Lola Blanche OPDYKE, who preceded him in death in January of 1959. To this union were born seven children -- Voy WRIGHT of Weldon [IOWA]; Lyle WRIGHT of Fairmont of Fairmont, Minn.; Kenneth WRIGHT, of Minburn; Coline [Mrs. Wilber BENNETT], whose death occurred in October of 1958, Christine [Mrs. Cleve SANFORD]; and Mrs. Helen SANDAGE, of Des Moines; and Louise [Mrs. Dick JOHNSTON], of Bedford [Iowa].

He was a graduate of the Mt. Moriah High School and attended summer school in Bethany, Missouri where he received his teacher's certificate. He taught school in Mt. Moriah and other schools in Harrison and Mercer Counties in Missouri.

In 1912, he moved to a farm near Caledonia in Ringgold County and in 1916, he moved to Neodesha, Kan., where he was employed in an oil refinery. In 1918, his love for the farm brought the family back to Caledonia, where he farmed, taught school and served as a school director and township trustee. Later, he farmed in Liberty and in Rice Townships, and in 1958 retired in Mount Ayr.

In 1893, his parents went to Kansas by covered wagon and took up a homestead in the southwest part of the state. Seven years later in 1900, he returned again by covered wagon. His accounts of these trips and of the Kansas homestead will long be remembered by his children.

His determination that each of his children should have a high school education never wavered, though difficulties at times seemed insurmountable.

In their later years, Mr. and Mrs. WRIGHT made a home for a granddaughter, Connie SANDAGE, whom they took as a baby. Their love for Connie, a student at Drake University in Des Moines, and their pride in her were ever bright spots in their lives.

After the death of his wife, Mr. WRIGHT entered the Robinson Nursing Home in Mount Ayr, where he remained until his death and where he received kind and loving care.

Even as he loved them, he will live in the hearts of those he leaves as long as memory remains.

Besides his wife, daughter and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Left to cherish his memory are six children; a sister, Mrs. Kate CHRUMA of Rapids Parish, LA; two brothers, Charles of Bravette, Ark. and Clair of Neodosha, Kan.; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Rhoades Funeral Home conducted by the Rev. W. P. GAUER. Mrs. Darl FERGUSON and Karen HUFFMAN sang, accompanied by Margaret PENCE. Casketbearers were G. S. WEBB, R. E. MAY, Chas. P. BENNETT . . . [remainder of obituary missing]

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008