Phillip Johannsen Wright passed away peacefully on March 7, 2022 at the age of 93. A native of Memphis, TN, he has been a resident of Baton Rouge since 1981. His life exemplified a deep love of family and a strong Christian belief.
Upon graduation from high school he joined sixteen classmates to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II where he served aboard the battleship Missouri. A 1952 graduate of the University of Tennessee, he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, ODK Honorary Fraternity, and received an ROTC commission leading to active duty during the Korean War in the Army Transportation Corps attaining the rank of Captain. Phillip often noted that his military service was a very important turning point in his young life.
His military service aboard ocean vessels led to a 53 year career in marine transportation beginning in Memphis, then St. Louis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Baton Rouge where he retired in December 2009 as a Vice President, Associated Terminals.
Phillip served on the Board of Governors for the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association, Treasurer and President of the Propeller Club of Baton Rouge, Secretary of the Interfaith Federation of Baton Rouge Board of Governors, two terms on the vestry of St. James Episcopal Church and chaired several ministries. His special interest was the We Care outreach services to the poor and homeless.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Carole Cummings Wright. He was especially proud of his five daughters: Catherine (Joseph) Hollerbach, Christine (Alan) Williams, Phyllis (Brent) Hill, Virginia (Brig. Gen. Ret. Roy) Uptegraff, and Linda (Stephen) Edmonson; the children’s mother, Ann K. Wright; ten grandchildren and eleven great-grand children. He had a special love for the three step-children: Dana Townsend, Joel Benson, Lt. Col. Ret. J. Michael (Jacquelyn) Benson; six step-grandchildren; and a half sister, Dorothy Wright (Ronald) Summers.
Visitation will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 205 N. Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 on March 26, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., with service to follow at 2:30 p.m. and inurnment in the St. James Columbarium. For those desiring to make a memorial, please consider St. James Outreach Ministry.
