Charles Perry Wright Jr.

Charles Perry Wright, 95, died on August 27, 2022 after a lifetime of climbing and skiing Washington state mountains, navigating over Puget Sound in his sloop-rigged sailboat, and navigating under the Pacific Ocean in fleet submarines. After serving in both World War lI and the Korean War in the US Navy Submarine Service, his fine scientific and creative mind then led him to a 33-year career with The Boeing Company that included work in underwater acoustics, marine systems, ocean technology, and jet noise suppression.

Charles was born in 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Perry Wright, Sr. and Martha Wright and came to Seattle with his family in 1932. They settled in Queen Anne, and Charles graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1944. An avid reader of history, the classics, religion, and poetry, he continued his education following his Naval military service at the University of Washington where he earned a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950.

Charles began his engineering career as a Field Engineer for the ELSCO Marine Electronics Service Company in the early 1950s and then began work at Boeing Aerospace Company as a Research Engineer in 1959. He continued with hydrofoil craft, marine, and ocean technology work at BAC until 1969 when he transferred to the Acoustic Noise Staff of Boeing Commercial Airplane Company. There he supported NASA contracts and was responsible for changes that led to improved hearing protection used by Boeing workers. During that time, he made a number of trips to the Pentagon in Washington, DC to provide technical support for Boeing contract development with the Department of Defense and remained in the Acoustic Noise Staff until his retirement in 1992 as a Principal Engineer.

While with The Boeing Company, Charles was recognized for seven US patents and received an Inventor Award in 1979 that honored his jet noise suppression invention, which included the jet noise suppressor nozzle concept for the SST, 727, and 737 aircraft. He held professional memberships in both the national and northwest chapters of the Acoustic Society of America and the Institute of Radio Engineers and was a member of the US Naval Institute, the Seattle Genealogical Society, Mountaineers, and the national and regional chapters of the Paperweight Collectors Association, Inc.

Charles served as both Deacon and Elder at the Seattle First Presbyterian Church in the 1980s and later was an active member of the Magnolia Presbyterian Church in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, where he had lived for over 55 years. Charles leaves two children by his marriage to Sally D. Stritzel: David M. Wright and Cristyn A. Lane and seven grandchildren. He also leaves his second wife of 37 years: Marion S. Wright; a step-daughter, Sarah M. Cox (Curtis) and two step-grandchildren; cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother, Donald R. Wright and his sister, Patricia A. Scott. A family graveside service was held. Remembrances may be made to the Magnolia Presbyterian Church.