Rodney Elwyn Wright

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Rodney Elwyn Wright passed away peacefully at his home in Phoenix, Arizona on July 14, 2015 at the age of 76. He was born March 6, 1939 in Hinckley, Utah and was the second son of Rodney Alvin and Wynnie Rose Spendlove Wright.

Rodney spent his early years in Santa Monica, California and in Chicago, where his father was employed by Douglas Aircraft during WW II. He attended kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School. When the family moved back to Hinckley, he attended Hinckley Elementary school and then seventh and eighth grades at Hinckley High School before it was consolidated with Delta High School, where he graduated in 1957. He attended College of Southern Utah in Cedar City for two years, studying art, and then transferred to Utah State University where he graduated with honors, winning the Cardon Art Award for outstanding art graduate. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Brigham Young University.

Rodney married Varla Jane Owens in the Salt Lake Temple on August 25, 1960. They raised four children. During their married life, they resided in Logan, Ogden, Spanish Fork, Willard Utah, Battle Ground, Indiana and Phoenix, Arizona where the family has lived since 1973. During his career he taught art classes for Ogden City Schools, Purdue University, Peoria Unified School District and Maricopa Community Colleges. While teaching, he also produced many of his own paintings, sculptures, wood carvings, jewelry pieces and drawings, winning awards and selling pieces to collectors around the world. He served as Elders Quorum president while in Willard, Utah. He later worked with Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster and as a lodge director at Camp Geronimo for many years. He had earned his Eagle Scout award during his youth, and each of his three sons also became Eagle Scouts.

He is survived by wife, Varla, daughter Laura Horne (Kent) of Peoria, Arizona, sons Clayne Wright (Jennifer) of Mesa, Arizona, Bevan Wright of Lake Forest, California, Desmon Wright (Julia) of Phoenix, Arizona, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Robert Wright (Carma) of Hurricane, Utah, John Wright (Rachel) of Oak City Utah, and Melvin Wright (Amy) of Hinckley, Utah. Rodney was preceded in death by his parents and by his younger brother, George Edward Wright.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Essential Care, Hospice of the Valley and Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary for their kind, considerate care of Rodney.

Rodney’s viewing will be held on Tuesday, July 22 from 9:00 to 9:45 AM at the Glendale Arizona Stake Center located at 8602 N 31stAve, Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at the West Resthaven Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona.