Fred Wright

Amory – Fred P. Wright, 92, died on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center. A native of Amory, Fred P. Wright was born June 1, 1918, to Wiley Hampton Wright and Annie Elizabeth Booker Wright. He graduated from Amory High School and earned his law degree in 1940 from the University of Mississippi. He married Brynda Martin in 1941. He began his law practice in Amory and was appointed as Monroe County’s prosecuting attorney in 1942. His law practice was interrupted by a tour of duty in Europe during World War II with the Army Air Force. He was in the 348th Fighter Group and the 367th Fighter Squadron where he was a Sergeant. He was stationed in France and Germany and participated in the Battle of the Bulge where his group earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its performance. He served in the military again in the Korean War and was a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the legal branch of the army. Upon returning to Amory, he continued to practice law and was elected the mayor of Amory in 1946. He served as attorney for the Monroe County Board of Supervisors, City of Amory, Amory Municipal School District, and the town of Smithville. He was also active in securing many new industries such as True Temper, Pullman Couch Company, Fabri Valve, Walker Mfg., Conoco Plastics, and others. He was an active participant on the boards of Monroe County Electric Company, Gilmore Memorial Hospital, and Gilmore Sanitarium. He was also member and President of Amory Kiwanis Club and helped to organize the VFW Post 4377. He served 69 years on the board of Amory Federal Savings and Loan, during which he served as President for 35 years. Judge Wright was first appointed a judge in 1964 to 1st District Chancery Court and was elected to 5 consecutive terms without opposition. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on the Administrative Board, as a Sunday school teacher, and on the TV ministry, as well as other capacities. In 1975, and again in 1986, he was named Amory’s outstanding citizen. Survivors include a son, Douglas M. Wright (Jeannie) of Olive Branch; daughter, Diane Wright Patterson (Pete) of Amory; four grandchildren, Douglas M. Wright, Jr. (Stephanie) of Saltillo, Stan Patterson (Karen) of Raleigh N.C., Ellen Patterson Wiygul (Scott) of Amory, Bennett Wright of Houston, TX; seven great-grandchildren, Jordan, Leighton, and Britton Wright; Wiley, Nora and Grace Patterson and Claire Wiygul; his caregiver, Louise McVey. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by brothers, Ralph, Harold and Paul Wright; sisters, Mildred Smith and Hilda Ellington; and great-grandson, Alex Wiygul. A funeral service for Fred P. Wright will be held at 1 PM, Saturday in First United Methodist Church with Rev. Warren Coile and Rev. Don McCain officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Hob Bryan, Buddy Bryant, John Clingan, Tom Crook, Gene Haney, Bobby Hill, Billy Kirkpatrick and Bob Wiygul. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Boozer, W. H. Bryan, E. C. Carpenter, Dr. Robert Cole, John Creekmore, Bill Fowlkes, Herman Hester, Fred Hodges, Dr. Richard Hollis, Larry Johnson, Dick Millender, Kim Minich, Howard Moon, Phil Roberts, and Dr. Roger Ratliff. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 147, or the Amory Humane Society, P.O. Box 218, Amory. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at picklefh@att.net . Arrangements for the Wright family are in the care of E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory; 256-2644.