Bobby Ray Wright

Bobby Ray Wright (87) of Baytown, Texas passed away peacefully on December 28, 2022. He was born in Groesbeck, Texas on November 4, 1935. He grew up in Ingleside, Texas where he played high school football under famed Coach Emory Bellard. Bobby went on to graduate as valedictorian and accepted a football scholarship to Rice University where he made some of his best memories, played in two Cotton Bowls, and met his wife of 60 years, Shirley Ann Baca Wright.

After graduating from Rice in 1959, Bobby was drafted, but before heading to basic training, he married Shirley on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1959. After serving in the Army for two and a half years, they were off on a coaching and teaching adventure that took them to several high schools across Texas before eventually landing in Baytown where Bobby coached football at Robert E. Lee High School until 1977 when he took up teaching History, Government, and Economics full-time, and finally retiring in 1991.

Bobby’s favorite thing to do was travel across the U.S. in his motorhome, taking backroads whenever he could because they were more interesting than the freeways. No matter where he went, he always managed to bump into someone he taught, and that person always had kind words for him. He loved talking with young people, football, old pick-up trucks, collecting trains, and telling stories about growing up. Bobby never met a stranger and could start up a conversation with just about anyone, anywhere at any time.

Bobby remained young at heart until his last days because he had the uncanny ability to find happiness in everything he did. The simplest pleasures in life brought him the greatest joy, and none more so than being a dedicated father –always serving proudly as chief supporter, hand holder, and cheerleader. He went to every basketball practice, track meet, and school play. He even showed up at drill team practice and never missed a half-time football game performance or stage show. He wiped tears, painted nails, cleaned booboos, and played barbies.

To know Bobby was to love Bobby. He is survived by his biggest fans, daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and John Golden, grandson Joshua Golden of Spring, Texas, and his younger sister, Jerry Lou Nix of Ingleside, Texas. He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Wright, his mother, Mary Wright, and his wife and best friend, Shirley Wright.

The family appreciates the many loving caregivers who attended to Bobby’s daily needs at The Village at Gleannloch Farms and Heart to Heart Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in Bobby’s memory can be made to Rice University under the designation of The Rice Annual Fund – the Rice Investment scholarship fund providing scholarships for students who may not otherwise be able to afford tuition: www.riceconnect.rice.edu/giving.

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