James Henry Wright

James Henry Wright's sunrise came on September 29, 1947 in High Point, North Carolina, the third son, and fourth child, of Delores Askew and Ernest Wright. He attended William Penn High School where he exhibited a keen aptitude in the sciences, graduating in 1965. After high school he followed his elder brothers enlisting in the United States Army, serving for three years in Communications and attaining the rank of Specialist. His military service was a point of particular pride for him, and it allowed him to see the world outside his hometown.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended Cleveland State University on the G.I. Bill, excelling in Computer Science and Economics, and completing his studies in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His love for Cleveland extended beyond just higher education, as he became a lifelong fan of the city's sports teams, and continued to hold out hope for a Browns Super Bowl victory.

While finishing up at Cleveland State, he began work as a systems analyst for Ohio Bell, and later AT&T, a position he maintained until his retirement in 1999. Not one to sit idle, his retirement didn't last long, and after intense study was certified as a personal trainer, where he found a new passion in helping others achieve their goals both physically and mentally.

In the summer of 1969 he met the love of his life, Delores Caple, a brilliant and compassionate school teacher from Morven, North Carolina, and they married on August 21, 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio. The newlyweds spent their early years of wedded bliss attending concerts and shows from some of the biggest acts, and visiting New York, Montreal, and other cities far different from where they'd grown up.

In 1976, James and Delores welcomed their first son, Walter Caple, into the world, and four years later in 1980 their second, James Fredrick. He loved his sons deeply, and held immense pride in their accomplishments, large and small. That same sense of pride carried over to his grandson, Javon Brandon, who arrived in 1999.

For much of his life he thrived outside and, blessed with a green thumb, cultivated gardens including tomatoes, corn, and strawberries in Cleveland; and onions, cabbages, and orange trees in Orlando, where he moved with his family in 1982. He spent countless hours in his yard with his sons or on his own, toiling away beautifying the space. When not finding joy in yard work, he found it in computers and high-tech gadgets (his affection for Star Trek: The Original Series was boundless), working out at the YMCA (where he was a board member for 25 years), or playing golf at various courses around the Orlando area and beyond. A voracious intellect, he was constantly learning and constantly challenging himself, reading multiple newspapers daily, engaging with edifying documentaries, and holding court during nightly airings of Jeopardy.

His sun set on October 19, 2021, and our world is dimmer in his absence. He is fondly remembered for his sharp intellect, quick wit, warm and booming voice, and his readiness with a captivating story or a disarming joke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Delores Askew and Ernest Wright; and his brothers, Ernest Wright, Jr. and Louis Oliver.

Left to cherish his memories are his beloved wife of 50 years, Delores C. Wright; his sons, Walter Caple and James Fredrick; his grandson, Javon Brandon; his sister, Gladys Wright Caswell; his daughter-in-law, Ericka Garcia; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind (https://www.lvib.org) or The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (https://www.fsdbk12.org).

A funeral service for James will be held Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, Florida 32819. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, Florida 33513.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com for the Wright family.