Bill Wright, a noted dairy farmer, machinist, labor organizer, area civil rights leader, and poet of Sandusky and formerly of Norwalk, passed away Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Parkvue Health Care Center. He was 98.
He was born May 11, 1914, the son of William Oram and Myrtle Evelyn Brown-Wright. A 1932 graduate of Norwalk High School, he attended a labor college in Cleveland. He also assisted in the day to day operations of Wright's Dairy.
He served his country in the US Army in World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, and earning a Bronze Star for his service. He was a member of the infantry and was also involved with Information and Education.
After returning from the war, he re-joined the family dairy. In 1983, he retired from Esmond Dairy, who had acquired his family's business in 1964.
Bill was the author of "A Life of Poems"; published in 2007. He was also responsible for bringing the W.I.C. (Women, Infants and Children) program to this area. A former member of Calvary Episcopal Church, he was also active in: Voices for Peace and Justice, as a founding member, NAACP, the Steel Workers Organization of Active Retirees, the Firelands Writing Center, and Genesis, an interracial dialogue group. In addition, Bill was an amateur boxer in his youth, and a string bass player in an area dance band.
Bill is survived by several nieces and nephews, many friends, and his dearest long-time friends Larry & Ann Smith of Huron. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death, in 1984, by his cherished wife, the former Florence Crystal Kuhlman; his infant son, William Francis Wright, in 1941; his brothers, Vernon, Paul, George and Ralph; and, most recently, his only sister, Ilene.
Friends may call on Saturday, the 27th, from 5-8 pm at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Services officiated by Rev. Robert Herkner will be held on Sunday the 28th at 1 p.m. in the funeral home.
At Bill's request, cremation will take place after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to: Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870; Planned Parenthood, 200 W. 9th Street, Lorain, Ohio 44052; Habitat for Humanity, 365 Main Street Suite A, Huron, Ohio 44839; Sierra Club Ohio Chapter, 131 N. High Street #605, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
He was born May 11, 1914, the son of William Oram and Myrtle Evelyn Brown-Wright. A 1932 graduate of Norwalk High School, he attended a labor college in Cleveland. He also assisted in the day to day operations of Wright's Dairy.
He served his country in the US Army in World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, and earning a Bronze Star for his service. He was a member of the infantry and was also involved with Information and Education.
After returning from the war, he re-joined the family dairy. In 1983, he retired from Esmond Dairy, who had acquired his family's business in 1964.
Bill was the author of "A Life of Poems"; published in 2007. He was also responsible for bringing the W.I.C. (Women, Infants and Children) program to this area. A former member of Calvary Episcopal Church, he was also active in: Voices for Peace and Justice, as a founding member, NAACP, the Steel Workers Organization of Active Retirees, the Firelands Writing Center, and Genesis, an interracial dialogue group. In addition, Bill was an amateur boxer in his youth, and a string bass player in an area dance band.
Bill is survived by several nieces and nephews, many friends, and his dearest long-time friends Larry & Ann Smith of Huron. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death, in 1984, by his cherished wife, the former Florence Crystal Kuhlman; his infant son, William Francis Wright, in 1941; his brothers, Vernon, Paul, George and Ralph; and, most recently, his only sister, Ilene.
Friends may call on Saturday, the 27th, from 5-8 pm at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Services officiated by Rev. Robert Herkner will be held on Sunday the 28th at 1 p.m. in the funeral home.
At Bill's request, cremation will take place after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to: Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870; Planned Parenthood, 200 W. 9th Street, Lorain, Ohio 44052; Habitat for Humanity, 365 Main Street Suite A, Huron, Ohio 44839; Sierra Club Ohio Chapter, 131 N. High Street #605, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Bill Wright, a noted dairy farmer, machinist, labor organizer, area civil rights leader, and poet of Sandusky and formerly of Norwalk, passed away Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Parkvue Health Care Center. He was 98.
He was born May 11, 1914, the son of William Oram and Myrtle Evelyn Brown-Wright. A 1932 graduate of Norwalk High School, he attended a labor college in Cleveland. He also assisted in the day to day operations of Wright's Dairy.
He served his country in the US Army in World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, and earning a Bronze Star for his service. He was a member of the infantry and was also involved with Information and Education.
After returning from the war, he re-joined the family dairy. In 1983, he retired from Esmond Dairy, who had acquired his family's business in 1964.
Bill was the author of "A Life of Poems"; published in 2007. He was also responsible for bringing the W.I.C. (Women, Infants and Children) program to this area. A former member of Calvary Episcopal Church, he was also active in: Voices for Peace and Justice, as a founding member, NAACP, the Steel Workers Organization of Active Retirees, the Firelands Writing Center, and Genesis, an interracial dialogue group. In addition, Bill was an amateur boxer in his youth, and a string bass player in an area dance band.
Bill is survived by several nieces and nephews, many friends, and his dearest long-time friends Larry & Ann Smith of Huron. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death, in 1984, by his cherished wife, the former Florence Crystal Kuhlman; his infant son, William Francis Wright, in 1941; his brothers, Vernon, Paul, George and Ralph; and, most recently, his only sister, Ilene.
Friends may call on Saturday, the 27th, from 5-8 pm at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Services officiated by Rev. Robert Herkner will be held on Sunday the 28th at 1 p.m. in the funeral home.
At Bill's request, cremation will take place after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to: Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870; Planned Parenthood, 200 W. 9th Street, Lorain, Ohio 44052; Habitat for Humanity, 365 Main Street Suite A, Huron, Ohio 44839; Sierra Club Ohio Chapter, 131 N. High Street #605, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
He was born May 11, 1914, the son of William Oram and Myrtle Evelyn Brown-Wright. A 1932 graduate of Norwalk High School, he attended a labor college in Cleveland. He also assisted in the day to day operations of Wright's Dairy.
He served his country in the US Army in World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, and earning a Bronze Star for his service. He was a member of the infantry and was also involved with Information and Education.
After returning from the war, he re-joined the family dairy. In 1983, he retired from Esmond Dairy, who had acquired his family's business in 1964.
Bill was the author of "A Life of Poems"; published in 2007. He was also responsible for bringing the W.I.C. (Women, Infants and Children) program to this area. A former member of Calvary Episcopal Church, he was also active in: Voices for Peace and Justice, as a founding member, NAACP, the Steel Workers Organization of Active Retirees, the Firelands Writing Center, and Genesis, an interracial dialogue group. In addition, Bill was an amateur boxer in his youth, and a string bass player in an area dance band.
Bill is survived by several nieces and nephews, many friends, and his dearest long-time friends Larry & Ann Smith of Huron. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death, in 1984, by his cherished wife, the former Florence Crystal Kuhlman; his infant son, William Francis Wright, in 1941; his brothers, Vernon, Paul, George and Ralph; and, most recently, his only sister, Ilene.
Friends may call on Saturday, the 27th, from 5-8 pm at Groff Funeral Homes and Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Services officiated by Rev. Robert Herkner will be held on Sunday the 28th at 1 p.m. in the funeral home.
At Bill's request, cremation will take place after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's name to: Stein Hospice Services, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870; Planned Parenthood, 200 W. 9th Street, Lorain, Ohio 44052; Habitat for Humanity, 365 Main Street Suite A, Huron, Ohio 44839; Sierra Club Ohio Chapter, 131 N. High Street #605, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
