Robert Townsend ‘Bob’ Wright

Robert T. Wright, 94, died Jan. 8 at his Prairie City home. A funeral service was held Jan. 14 at Driskill Memorial Chapel, with interment following at Canyon City Cemetery.

Mr. Wright was born May 14, 1918, in Columbus, N.J., to Charles and Naomi Wright. He graduated from high school in Kansas City, Mo.

He served in the Pacific during World War II, and was wounded in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries sustained while in battle. After recovering, he was discharged with honors.

He moved to Pendleton, where he began a career with the U.S. Postal Service.

In September 1975, he married Elsie Lieblein of John Day. Following his retirement that same year, they moved to John Day, where he was active in the community and gave of his time to benefit others.

He was a member of the Degree of Honor, the Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He volunteered at the food bank and drove the People Mover bus, during his early years in John Day.

He regularly visited patients at Blue Mountain Nursing Home and Valley View Assisted Living Facility. One of his greatest pleasures was taking family and friends out to dinner, where he always insisted on treating.

Survivors include his daughter, Charlene (Lauren) Ball of Bellevue, Wash.; stepchildren, Robert (Ellen) Hehn of Vancouver, Wash., Rick (Sharon) Hehn of Olympia, Wash., and Sandra Hehn of Mt. Vernon; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and special friends, Lindsay and Brogan Madden of Canyon City, and Michael Knadler of Canyon City.

He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie, and stepsons, James and Dale Hehn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tim Neilson Scholarship Fund through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.