Obituary for George Wright
QUEENSBURY - The joke telling has stopped but the memories will live on in our hearts for George H. Wright who died on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, after a short illness.
Always sporting a smile and a positive attitude, George often said of his life that he had no regrets. He felt he was fortunate to have the love of two wonderful wives, his children and step-children.
He was born on August 4, 1922, to Van and Leah (Wade) Wright in their family home atop Cook Street in Worcester, NY. He graduated from Worcester Central School in 1941.
From Jan. 20, 1943, to Dec. 8, 1945, George served in World War II as a private in Battery D 795th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received the American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
On July 31, 1946, George married Martha Barry making them “George and Martha W.,” which was the subject of many jokes. That same year George began a career that he loved working for the Glens Falls Insurance Company. As a dedicated employee, he moved from Syracuse to Buffalo to Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park and finally to South Glens Falls. When he retired in 1986, he was a supervising adjuster for Continental Insurance Company (UAC). George said after working for 40 years, he now wanted 40 years of retirement. During his retirement he taught himself how to use a computer and enjoyed emailing jokes to friends and family and was also on Facebook.
After being married for 57 years, Martha died in 2003. A year later, George re-connected with his high school sweetheart, Leah (Smith) Benjamin, who he hadn’t seen in 64 years. He moved to Cape Coral, Fla., to be with her and they were married for four years before she passed away in 2010. During his time with Leah, George discovered his love of reading and became a big fan of the author Stuart Woods.
George returned to the Glens Falls area where he was very socially active and living independently at The Willows in Queensbury for eight years. He was affectionately known as “The Mayor” there. He loved his neighbors and especially enjoyed playing cards and BINGO with them. He truly appreciated Crandall Public Library’s Outreach Program keeping him in good supply of reading material.
In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his brothers; Willard Wright and Milton Wright. His two late wives will be waiting for him at the gates of Heaven with a whiskey sour.
He is survived by his sister Marilyn (Charles) Dufresne of Worcester, his brother Richard (Shirley) Wright of Worcester, his children; Gary (Serena) Wright of Staatsburg and Beth Wright of Queensbury, his step-children; Ann Bowers of Dunkirk, Cecile (Steve) Simmons of Altamont, Susan (Jeff) Weisz of Utah, and Timothy (Leslie) Benjamin of Rochester; 7 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Ethel VanBuren of Stamford and Wanda Bookhout of Sydney, and brother-in-law Thomas Barry of Mexico.
At George’s request there will be no calling hours.
A private graveside ceremony will take place in the spring at Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester followed by a celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 or the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main Street, Queensbury, NY 12804.
Always sporting a smile and a positive attitude, George often said of his life that he had no regrets. He felt he was fortunate to have the love of two wonderful wives, his children and step-children.
He was born on August 4, 1922, to Van and Leah (Wade) Wright in their family home atop Cook Street in Worcester, NY. He graduated from Worcester Central School in 1941.
From Jan. 20, 1943, to Dec. 8, 1945, George served in World War II as a private in Battery D 795th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He received the American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
On July 31, 1946, George married Martha Barry making them “George and Martha W.,” which was the subject of many jokes. That same year George began a career that he loved working for the Glens Falls Insurance Company. As a dedicated employee, he moved from Syracuse to Buffalo to Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park and finally to South Glens Falls. When he retired in 1986, he was a supervising adjuster for Continental Insurance Company (UAC). George said after working for 40 years, he now wanted 40 years of retirement. During his retirement he taught himself how to use a computer and enjoyed emailing jokes to friends and family and was also on Facebook.
After being married for 57 years, Martha died in 2003. A year later, George re-connected with his high school sweetheart, Leah (Smith) Benjamin, who he hadn’t seen in 64 years. He moved to Cape Coral, Fla., to be with her and they were married for four years before she passed away in 2010. During his time with Leah, George discovered his love of reading and became a big fan of the author Stuart Woods.
George returned to the Glens Falls area where he was very socially active and living independently at The Willows in Queensbury for eight years. He was affectionately known as “The Mayor” there. He loved his neighbors and especially enjoyed playing cards and BINGO with them. He truly appreciated Crandall Public Library’s Outreach Program keeping him in good supply of reading material.
In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his brothers; Willard Wright and Milton Wright. His two late wives will be waiting for him at the gates of Heaven with a whiskey sour.
He is survived by his sister Marilyn (Charles) Dufresne of Worcester, his brother Richard (Shirley) Wright of Worcester, his children; Gary (Serena) Wright of Staatsburg and Beth Wright of Queensbury, his step-children; Ann Bowers of Dunkirk, Cecile (Steve) Simmons of Altamont, Susan (Jeff) Weisz of Utah, and Timothy (Leslie) Benjamin of Rochester; 7 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Ethel VanBuren of Stamford and Wanda Bookhout of Sydney, and brother-in-law Thomas Barry of Mexico.
At George’s request there will be no calling hours.
A private graveside ceremony will take place in the spring at Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester followed by a celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 or the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main Street, Queensbury, NY 12804.