Roy Leon Wright, Sr., age 98, passed away Monday, April 15, 2024 in Oklahoma City. He was born March 23, 1926 in Boswell, Oklahoma. He grew up in a shack with no gas, electricity, or running water. Roy’s father passed away in a hunting accident when Roy was 6 years old, leaving him, his mom, and his younger brother. They scratched out a living by plucking chickens and splitting and selling wood. Due to not having to radio or newspapers, he learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor long after it happened. Knowing a war was raging, and he would eventually be drafted, shortly before his 18th birthday in 1943 he joined the US Navy and would join the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Beginning in May of 1944 and through the rest of the war, he called the decks of the Enterprise his home. As the Enterprise neared the Japanese home islands in May of 1945, kamikaze pilots attacked the ship three times in three days, just before his 19th birthday. Shortly thereafter, the war ended, and he was heading home. Once home, he went on a blind date and met the love of his life, Joyce. They married in January 29, 1946 in Holdenville and had 2 children during their 66 years together. Roy worked for Humpty Dumpty grocery stores as a butcher until the early 1980s when he retired. Helen passed away in 2012. Roy was a long time member of Council Road Baptist Church and loved the Lord. He was an amazing husband and father who will be remembered for his fun loving nature, his gentle spirit, his dedication to his work and his family, and his ability to befriend everyone. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen Wright and Sylvia Pearl (Sanders) Thomas; wife, Joyce Wright; granddaughter, April Angel; and his siblings, Pete, William, Howard, Athran, Dorothy, Peggy, Gladys, and Rosa. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, R. Leon and Gina Wright; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Phillip Helton; grandchildren, Phillip Edward Helton, II, Victoria Helton, Trae and Tami Wright, and Jeremy and Kat Wright; great grandchildren, Tristen, Aden, Erick, Connor, and Cohen.
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