 CHARLES WRIGHT, Jr.COCOA Mr. Charles Judson Wright, 81, of Cocoa, Fla., died Mon day, August 23, 2004. He was born on Decem ber 18, 1922, in Birmingham, Ala. Charlie was the son of the late Charles J. Wright, Sr. and Birtie M. Wright. He was pre ceded in death by his son, Charles J. Wright, III. Charlie moved to Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1935. He was valedic torian of his class at Jefferson Military Academy in Washing ton, Miss. During college at Mississippi State University, he served as president of the schools chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Mississippi State has always held a special place in his heart; his collection of bulldog figu rines is extensive. Charlie always loved music, especially the music of this time period. Music by Glenn Miller was his favorite throughout his life. He married the love of his life, Virginia Yvonne Morgan, on July 19, 1944. After serving as a United States Naval officer during World War II, he returned to Hattiesburg to assist his father in the management of radio station WFOR. He served as president of the Mississippi Broadcasters Association. He also served on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hattiesburg. In 1956, he began work with Western Electric at Bell Laboratories to research and develop the guidance systems of the Thor and Titan missiles. In 1963, Charlie began work with NASA at Cape Canaveral, Fla. He became the Ground Communications Director for NASA at Cape Canaveral, a position that he held until his retirement twenty years ago. Since then, he has enjoyed retirement with his wife Virginia, their family, his fellow Rotarians, and the familys many friends. Survivors include his devoted wife of sixty years, Virginia M. Wright; his daughter, Diane E. Wright of Charlotte, N.C.; and two granddaughters, Karen E. Barber and her husband Tristan of Charlotte, N.C., and Lynn E. Conrad and her fiance Sunil Malkani of Lakeland, Fla. A memorial service to cele brate the life of Charlie Wright will be held on Saturday, August 28, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Cocoa, with Father Jerry Beaumont officiating. Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home of Cocoa Beach, (321) 784-0116, is in charge of arrangements. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Huntington Place Rehabilitation & Nursing Center for the care and support provided to Mr. Wright. The staff at Huntington commented frequently about something Charlies family had always known-Charlie was a gentle man, through and through. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Charles J. Wright, III, Memorial Scholarship Fund, Brevard Community College, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL, 32922, or Alzheimers Associa tion, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. |
