Lee Franklin Wright

Lee Franklin Wright (89), formerly a resident of Johnstown, passed away Tuesday morning March 2, 2021 in Dublin, Ohio. Born in Lockbourne, Ohio, he was one of four boys and two girls, to the late Frank and Victoria (Sanford) Wright. Lee, a 1949 graduate of Johnstown High School, was recruited to play college football at Miami University for the late Woody Hayes. On November 11, 1950 Lee married his longtime girlfriend, JoAnn Naginey. Lee retired from United Telephone Company after 36-years of service in 1987. Lee and JoAnn, along with traveling buddies and best friends, Dick and Norma Johnson were partners in the businesses of J&W Rentals and J&W Car Wash in Johnstown for many years. Lee and JoAnn purchased the Johnson’s side of the business in 1985 and formed The Wright Car Wash, a business they retired from when selling to their son Tim and his wife Angie. Our community was served in many ways by Lee, including electing Lee as a multi-term school board member and as a coach in the Johnstown Little League. In 2008 Lee was named ‘Senior Citizen of the Year’ by American Legion Post 254 and the Fourth of July Committee, a selection recognizing his many contributions to Johnstown. One of his crowning moments occurred in 2010 when he was chosen as Grand Marshal of the annual Johnstown Firemen’s Festival, Lee had served our community well as a long time member of the Johnstown Rural Volunteer Fire Department. Besides his wife, JoAnn, this avid Johnstown Johnnie and Ohio State Buckeyes fan is survived by a sister, Rebecca Simmons, Rochester Hills, Michigan; sister-in-law, Charon Wright, New Albany, Ohio; daughters, Janet (Randy) Kelly, Jodi McKnight, Judy Shull, Jill (Don) Harvey and Jackie (Jerry) Cannon and one son, Tim (Angie) Wright all of Johnstown; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by sister Virginia Smoot and brothers Billie, Tom and Monroe and son-in-law, Mike Shull. A private service and burial will be held Friday, March 5th, 2021. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Johnstown Hall of Fame, which Lee was a proud member, with checks made payable to the Johnstown Athletic Boosters 445 S. Main Street Johnstown, Ohio 43031.