Mr. Ronald Douglas Wright

RONALD DOUGLAS WRIGHT, 71, passed away unexpectedly on February 2, 2016, at Novant Presbyterian Hospital Matthews, due to complications from a stroke. He was surrounded by his entire loving family and scores of friends throughout his brief illness. Ronald was born on September 5, 1944, to Marion Wright and Kathleen Caywood in Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennessee. In addition to being predeceased by his parents, he was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Joe Caywood and Maggie Price, and his paternal grandparents, Paris Wright and Lula Ann Booher. The Caywood Line emigrated from the Yorkshire area of England in the late 1600s, becoming first settlers in Sullivan County, Tennessee, by the 1790 Census. The Wright Line emigrated from England to the Tidewater area of Virginia in the mid-1600s, later becoming the first settlers of Wise County, Virginia in the 1820s. Mr. Wright is a direct lineal descendant of Francis Wright and Anne Washington, who was the great aunt to George Washington, our nation’s first president.

In the 1950s, the Wright Family moved to Charlotte, and Ronald started working hard at a very young age, carrying a newspaper route and working at Jimmy Renfrow’s station on Providence Road. After graduating from Garringer High School, he married his wife of over 50 years, Toni Diane Marrone, in York, South Carolina, on July 5, 1965. Ronald served in the US Army Reserve during the Vietnam Conflict and worked as a supervisor for A&P Bakery before entering the real estate business in 1971.

After several years working at another Charlotte real estate firm, he started his own company, Wright Realty and Mortgage Company, in 1977. His practice included brokerage, home improvements, and land development with financing. Ronald took great pleasure in creating a quality affordable product or service that added value for many friends and repeat customers.

Mr. Wright was a devout Christian in every sense of the word and a long term member of the Matthews United Methodist Church. His hobbies and special interests included travel, particularly with his wife and son. Favorite repeat destinations included Hawaii, Rome, Paris, and Budapest. He was always inquisitive and wanting to learn more about people and places in history. Ronald never met a stranger, and he had many close friends going back to the Garringer High School era and a special circle at Starbucks.

Ronald is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Toni, of Matthews, his son Dr. Tony Wright, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, and his close sisters, Kay Sharpe of Gastonia and Sandra Wright of Midland. Special care and support came from all 4 of sister Kay’s children, Amy Sharp Efird (Russ) of Charlotte, Cathy Sharpe George (Phil) of Gastonia, Thomas Kenneth Greene Jr (Monica) of Liberty, NC, and Kimberly Moore of Gastonia.

The family would like to thank all the friends who took time to come and show support during his hospitalization.

Services will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, February 6, 2016, in the Paul Helton Chapel at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at 12:00pm. Interment will take place at Forest Lawn West Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Ron, please do something kind for someone today.

Offer condolences through forestlawnwest.com