William "Bill" Nathan Wright

William “Bill” Nathan Wright, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Bill, the son of the late Rev. Thomas Morton and Rose (Vitavec) Wright, was born March 6, 1933 in Muskegon, Mich. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Bill was a member of First Baptist Church, where he previously served as Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Director, organized the ushers during the contemporary service, and worked in Upward Basketball. He was also a member of The Gideons International, and was an ordained deacon. Bill retired after 33 years in management for ServiceMaster, later retired after 12 years as a courier with Southern Missouri Bank, and delivered cars for Hillis Chrysler-Dodge. Bill loved his Lord and Savior, church family, time spent with family and friends. He was an avid sports fan of the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals and TRC Raiders.

He was married to Judy Sims on Jan. 1, 1956 in Muskegon, Mich. She preceded him in death. On June 16, 1990, he married Carolyn (Warren) Wright in St. Louis. She survives.

Other survivors include five children: Stephen (Becky) Wright of Hastings, Mich., Michael (Tracy) Wright of Waxhaw, NC, Mark (Joy) Wright of Lakeland, Fla., Ron (Dawn) Wright of Allendale, Mich. and Georgia (Gary) Vaughn of Alabaster, Ala.; two step-children: Greg Johnson of Baltimore, Md. and Tom Johnson of St. Petersburg, Fla.; 17 grandchildren: Daniel, Jonathan, Mary, Benjamin, Christopher, Jonathan, David, Rachel, Lydia, Tom, Meredith, David, Savannah, and Annika Wright, Jacquelyn Vaughn, and Logan and Anna Johnson; nine great-grandchildren; and a sister, Rhoda Repke of Gainesville, Ga.

Four brothers, Tom, Mort, David and Rev. Dick Wright also preceded Bill in death.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel with a Celebration of Life Service following at 1 p.m. The Rev. Brandon Spain will officiate. Interment with full military honors will be at 3 p.m. at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International or to First Baptist Church.