Mr. William "Bill" Glenn Wright, age 88 of Elkin, passed away Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. He was born near Dobson, NC on August 31, 1923 to Rev. Joe and Pearl Wood Wright. Bill and Edith Holcomb were married in June 1941 and attended Mountain Park High School after marriage. They later moved to Newport News, VA where Mr. Wright worked for Newport News shipyard for two years. He then joined the US Army where he was a Sergeant. Mr. Wright served for three years, serving in New Guinea, the Philippines, and was in the last battle of Okinawa. During his service he won three battle stars. After leaving the service, he entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the GI Bill in the Institute of Government in Traffic Management. Mr. Wright then joined the NC Highway Patrol. After two years in the Highway Patrol he became police chief for the town of Mt. Olive, NC. He later returned to the NC Highway Patrol and retired as a Senior Master Trooper after 30 years of service. After retirement Mr. Wright taught law enforcement classes at both Surry and Wilkes Community College. Mr. Wright served also as president of the Men's Bible Class at Elkin Valley Baptist Church for 33 years. He was a 50 year member of the Elkin Masonic Lodge #454 (recently inactive) and a member of the VFW Post 11222. During their marriage, he and Edith adopted four children. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Kay William "Buck" Wright; daughter, Angela Wright; brothers, Oscar Wright and John Wright; and sister, Marie Lyles. He is survived by his wife, Edith Holcomb Wright of the home; son, Robert Wayne Wright and his wife Kristie of Elkin; daughter, Crystal Wright Walker and her husband Rex of State Road; four sisters, Ann Calloway, Ada Collins, Betty Reynolds, and Mary Robertson; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Monday, April 30, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the church. The family will accept flowers or memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church, 810 Prison Camp Road, Dobson, NC 27017. The family would like to thank Dr. Erlandson and the staff of Foothills Family Medicine, the staff of Hugh Chatham Nursing Center and the staff of Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital for their care.
