James was born in Houston,Texas to J.M. Wright and Edith Virrie Wright on September 5, 1929. He attended Stephen F. Austin High school in Houston. He did various jobs as a young man.. a floor sweeper in a lumber yard, an usher at the Eastwood theater and one of the first to usher at the Santa Rosa Theater. He was also a laborer on a tugboat in Louisiana.
He joined the US Air Force in 1950. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal as an Air Police officer stationed in Tucson, AZ. In November of 1950 he married Bernice Reese. They were married for seventeen years and together had four children.
In 1956 he went to work for Reed Roller Bit Company on Navigation Blvd. in Houston as a machinist and then as a tool room specialist. During layoffs he would work from home as a TV repairman. He retired after 32 years. In September of 1974 he married Mary Schroeder in Houston, Tx and they shared their children and their lives for 44 years.
James is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Wright, son, Stephen Wayne Wright, father, J.M. Wright, mother, Edith Virrie Wright and brother John Vaughn Wright.
James is survived by his sister Nancy C. Morgan, daughters Dorothy Kaye Thomas (Vic) of Lago Vista, Tx, Ava Laraine Mathis (Chris) of Pearland, Tx, and Donna Jean Zawada (David) of Ramsay, Montana. Six grandchildren, Lori Hewitt, Ike Coronis, April Bunch, James Winstead, Ryan Mathis, and Steven Winstead and nine great- grandchildren. He is also survived by his four step-children, many grand children and great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers include, Ike Coronis, Ryan Mathis, James Winstead, Derik Engesveen, Allyn Hewitt and Corbin Hewitt.
The Celebration of Life for James will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home.
Visitation 5-8pm, Thursday, April 11, in the Grand Chapel.
Services 1:00pm, Friday, April 12, in the Chapel of Angels.
Burial and graveside services will follow at Forest Park Cemetery.
Memorials May be given to the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA in honor of his wife, Mary.
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