Richard "Dick" Wright, 88, of Burlington, died Friday, May 19, 2023, at Addington Place in Burlington. Just a week after celebrating his 88th birthday.
Born May 12, 1935, in Burlington, he was the son of Lucille Kampschneider and Beauford Wright.
He worked as a bank teller while attending SCC and remained employed at First National Bank (now US Bank) his entire career. He eventually earned his banking degree from the University of Wisconsin and gained a reputation as a stickler for accuracy.
Dick loved a good joke and made us laugh (or groan) often. He also loved sports and was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. He gained attention as a baseball and basketball player while attending Burlington's Catholic schools and continued to earn accolades as a star basketball player when he attended SCC. He remained involved in sports until he began to lose his vision in his 70's. As a young adult he officiated baseball, basketball and football. Dick believed in community service by his service in the National Guard, working for Catholic Charities as well as volunteering on the zoning board of adjustment and city planning commission. He was a member of the YMCA board, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, and SCC Alumni. He also enjoyed golf, handball and especially tennis. Dick was the 1st certified USRSA racquet stringer in Iowa and ran Shoquoquon Tennis Club for several years after retiring from USBank.
Survivors include wife of 62 years, Mary Kay Spading Wright of Burlington; daughters, Rita (Gary) Willkinson of Peachtree City, Ga., Teresa (Fred) Cowens of Naples, Fla., and Linda (Joe) Coen of Newton; his six grandchildren, whom he was very proud of; and his sisters, Robin Wright Langston and JoAnn Bryan.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.
A celebration of life for Dick will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Addington Place, 5175 West Ave. Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Divine Mercy Parish or St Jude Children's Research Hospital