Richard Joseph Wright

March 3, 1945 – December 2, 2017

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Joseph Wright (U.S. Army, Ret.) age 72, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2017, surrounded by his devoted family. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret; son, Richard and wife Rosalia; daughter, Elizabeth and husband James; and three grandchildren, Margaret, Anna, and Richard.

Rich graduated from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, MN. He went on to the University of Minnesota and received a MS degree in Philosophy. Rich was a 27-year career U.S. Army officer, including service as a forward air controller in Vietnam followed by many rewarding assignments in the U.S. and overseas. Upon retirement from the U.S. Army, he worked for 20 years as a contractor for Exxon-Mobil. In addition to an active working life, he enjoyed traveling, camping and hiking, gardening, reading and spending time with family.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 14, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017, at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX. A reception will follow the service.

Interment with military funeral honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

Flowers or expressions of sympathy may be sent to American Heritage Funeral Home or the funeral home's website listed below. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of Richard J. Wright. Their website can be found at http://www.lls.org.