Theresa M. Wright

Theresa Marie Wright, 61, of Yorktown, VA passed away at 4:32 AM on Tuesday July 11, 2023. Theresa was born on July 6, 1962 in Kokomo, Indiana to father, Ray Welge, Jr. of Kokomo, Indiana and mother, British Expat., Audry (Charnley) Welge of Oxford, England. On May 11, 1983 she married her husband, Command Sergeant Major, Joseph Timothy Wright, Sr. USA (Ret.); they recently celebrated 40 years of marriage. Theresa is a graduate of Taylor High School, Class of 1980. She enjoyed a successful career in the United States Army, serving on active duty at Fort Benning, GA; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and the Pentagon from 1979-1986. She proceeded to serve as a civil servant as the Secretary for the Lead General of the US Army Safety Center at Ft. Rucker, Alabama; administrator for the JROTC program at Fort Monroe, Virginia; and as a customs agent at the Port of Virginia in Norfolk. Since leaving civil service until her passing, Mrs. Wright was enjoying retirement as a disabled veteran and was extremely proud to have spent much of her life and career in service to her country, and her military and civilian communities through honorable military and civil service and volunteer work with the Ft. Eustis Family Readiness Group. She also enjoyed raising and volunteering to coach her kids' sports teams while she watched them grow, was an avid and talented sewer and crocheter and collector of beautiful things, loved to shop, dance, and sing, and devoted much of her time to her husband, children, and seven grandchildren. Theresa is survived by two of her siblings, their partners, children and Theresa’s sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews: brother, Ray Welge III (his spouse, Tammy) and Theresa’s sister-in-law, Jin Sue and nieces, Jae Welge and Sue Scalini, and her daughter and fiancé; brother, John Welge (his partner Wanda) and Theresa’s niece, Cami; ex-wife of late brother, David, Dana Martin, nephew, David Welge, Jr. and niece, Cora Kimmel and their families. She is also survived by her husband, children and seven grandchildren: son, Joseph Timothy Wright, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Devane Wright; and grandsons, Landon and Wyatt; son, Michael Wright; daughter-in-law, Samantha Wright; granddaughters, Cadence and Olivia; and grandsons, Michael, Jr. and Timothy; daughter, Angelina Oneil; son-in-law, Walter Wilson Oneil; and grandson, Walter Wilson Oneil, II. Additionally, Theresa was a beloved part of her husband, Joseph’s large extended family, claiming fifteen nieces and nephews, twelve-plus brothers-and-sisters-in-law and many grandnieces and nephews on that side as well. The only female of four children in her immediate family, Theresa was preceded in death by her grandparents; parents, Ray and Audry; her brother, David; and sister-in-law, Debra (late wife of brother, Ray Welge III). She was preceded in death on her husband’s side of the family by her sisters-in-law, Bernice Ballew and Catherine Wright; brothers-in-law, Ralph Ballew, Michael Stewart, Sr. and Herman Wright; niece, Ivey Ballew; and nephew, Michael (Papi) Stewart, Jr. Please join us from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Thursday, July 20th to celebrate the life of Theresa Marie Wright at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N Armistead Ave., Hampton, VA, 23666. Services are open to family and friends and anyone wishing to pay their respects. Repast to follow at the Coventry Clubhouse, 100 Wrought Iron Bend, Yorktown, VA, 23693 at 5:30 PM. Light fare and refreshments will be provided; However, anyone wishing to contribute any food or drink may drop it off at the Clubhouse prior to the wake between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM, if desired. Flowers may be sent to Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home; we recommend ordering flowers from Pollards Florist (609 Harpersville Rd Newport News, VA, 23601; (757) 595-7661; pollardsflorist.com). Please contact Devane Wright at 804-528-7756 with any questions or needs for support. Family and friends can visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/hampton-va/theresa-wright-11366374 to send flowers and/or submit a memory of Theresa that will be publicly viewable to anyone with the link, share the obituary and sign up to receive any updates.