Frederick Carlton Wright Jr.

Frederick Carlton Wright, Jr., 92, of Langdon Place of Keene, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 29, due to natural causes. He was a beloved and devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, and friend to many.

Fred was born in Keene, NH, on Feb. 7, 1934, the son of Edith Evelyn (Mark) Wright and Frederick Carlton Wright, Sr. He lived in and attended school in Keene, NH, graduating from Keene High School in 1952, where he focused on Industrial Arts, becoming a finish carpenter. During and immediately after high school, Fred worked at the Keene Food Mart (formerly at the head of Central Square, in Keene).

In 1956, Fred joined the US Army, serving from Sept 1956 – Sept 1958, achieving the rank of Tank Commander for Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Training Regiment at the United States Army Training Center, Fort Knox, TN. He then served as a sergeant in the US Army Reserves until his honorable discharge in Aug. 1962.

Fred married Nancy A. Streeter (formerly of Charlestown, NH) on December 25, 1956 (yes, Christmas Day, that’s when Fred could get leave from the Army). They initially lived in Charlestown and moved to Keene in 1959. They had 3 children – Michael George (1958), Kimberly Ann (1960), and Dierdre Ann (1961). They celebrated 68 wonderful years together before Nancy died in 2025.

Fred was a master carpenter and cabinet maker. He perfected his skills while working for his uncle, Ivah Ballou, and then his cousin, Ivah’s son, Willard. Once Williard retired, Fred ran his own business for several years, retiring in 1999, at the age of 65. During his career, he built/renovated, and made custom cabinets for hundreds of homes and businesses in the Monadnock region. The two projects of most significance to him were: 1) Being part of his uncle’s team that built the synagogue in Keene, where he personally created the custom oak cabinets for the synagogue's Torahs. 2) Renovating the fixer-upper house that he and Nancy purchased to turn it into the home that they wanted, as well as later adding an apartment to it for his mother.

Fred loved to say that his way of finding God was in the great outdoors – the woods, a stream, a lake, the ocean, his garden, etc. He was an avid fly fisherman, hooking rainbow trout; a hunter seeking ducks, geese, partridge, and deer; and a gardener growing and harvesting a wide variety of vegetables each year. He shared his love of the outdoors with his children and his wife, Nancy. Many joyful vacations were spent camping and hiking with family and friends. And, in their early retirement, Fred and Nancy made several long road trips visiting many National Parks across the USA.

Fred’s love of creating things extended beyond his job. He enjoyed working with wood. Just for fun, he crafted numerous pieces of custom furniture, wood carvings, and several canoes. Beyond wood, he painted several wildlife pictures, made his own flies for fly fishing, and crafted bamboo fly rods from scratch.

Fred was a welcoming and engaging person who was known for his quick wit and sense of humor. If he liked you, then he would joke around with you. But he also knew he should expect to be the target of jokes in return (which his kids occasionally took advantage of), and Fred took them in stride. Fred shared his skills and knowledge by serving as a Boy Scout leader for several years, teaching them woodworking, fishing, hiking, camping, fly tying, work ethic, and many other good qualities. He loved spending time with family and friends. Fred was also an avid reader, especially enjoying science fiction, mystery, thriller, fantasy, and suspense books.

Fred is survived by his son Michael G. Wright, wife Ann, of Marlborough, NH; daughters Kimberly A. Seidel, husband Michael, of Westfield, NJ, and Dierdre A. Bernier-Belletete, spouse Lynn Belletete, previously of North Swanzey, NH; his brother Sheldon G. Wright of West Swanzey, NH; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and twelve nieces and nephews.

Fred is now reunited in heaven with his beloved wife, Nancy; his mother and father; his sister, Shirley E. (Wright) Nicholas; one granddaughter; and one great-granddaughter.

Family and friends are invited to call July 13th from 10:00-11:00 a.m., with a Funeral Service starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro St, Keene, NH. Burial will immediately follow the service at Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Ave, Keene.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Fred's memory to Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate or the Alzheimer's Association (Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders Association, Inc.) at alz.org would be appreciated.

The family of Frederick Wright extends special thanks to the wonderful staff at Langdon Place of Keene for the excellent assistance and care given to Fred over the last several years.

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We'll Always Remember Dad

We’ll always remember that

special smile that caring heart

that warm embrace you always

gave us. We’ll always remember

you being there for Mom and us

through good and bad times no

matter what. We’ll always

remember you, Dad, because

there’ll never be anyone to

replace you in our hearts and the

love we will always have for you.

~ Mike, Kim & Dee ~