Obituary

Wright, Norman O.

Norman O. Wright, 88, of Plainview, passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Plainview with Dr. Travis Hart officiating. Burial will follow in Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors. A visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Sunday in the Kornerstone Chapel.

Norman was born on May 3, 1929, to Arvel Jennings and Pearl Thacker Wright in Greenville. Illinois (Bond County). He graduated from Vandalia High School, Vandalia, Illinois in 1947. Norman attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and also Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas.

He married Louise Syms in Albuquerque, N.M., on March 3, 1950, while he was serving in the United States Army. He was a veteran of the Korean War and served with the 99th Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. He was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Army Reserves.

Norman and his family moved to Plainview in 1959 in order for him to attend Wayland Baptist University. His banking experience from Albuquerque opened the door for a bank position at the Hale County State Bank (now Centennial Bank), the City National Bank as its president, and chairman of the board of First National bank. He retired in 1994 from Wells Fargo Bank after a banking career spanning 42 years.

He was an Independent Insurance Agent with Morgan-Eaves Agency and Independent Insurance Agents of Plainview beginning in 1994 and retiring for a second time on Dec. 31, 2015, at age 86. Norman viewed his work not as just a source of income but as a ministry as well with all those whom he came in contact.

He has been an active member of First Baptist Church since 1959, serving as a deacon and lay church leader for many years. He was a Sunday school teacher and stopped teaching only recently because of his physical limitations. He loved preparing a Sunday sSchool lesson and teaching the Bible.

He was a community leader not only in Plainview, but for the Panhandle-South Plains area as well. He was a trustee for Wayland Baptist University, president of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce for two terms, president and active member of Plainview Lions Club for 50 years. He was co-chairman for the fund drive to build the YMCA. He served on the boards of the Salvation Army, the Hale County Senior Citizens Center, the Better Business Bureau of Lubbock, the Plainview Area United Way, and the Plainview Industrial Foundation. Norman served on the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority for 30 years and as its president for seven of those years. Under his leadership, CRMWA secured water rights that would provide a water supply for 11 member cities including Amarillo, Plainview, and Lubbock into the next century.

He is a 32nd Degree Mason and is past Master of Arch J. Keys Lodge 1395. Norman also served as District Deputy Grand Master of District 96.

Norman was named Plainview's Man of the Year in 1978 by the Plainview Chamber of Commerce. He received the Jack Morris Economic Development and Leadership Award from the Hale County Economic Development Corporation in January of 2017.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Wright of Plainview; his four children, Walter Wright and his wife, Sharon, of Plainview, Dr. David Wright and his wife, Dr. Ruth Wright of Plainview, Susan Jameson and her husband Ted of Albuquerque, and John Wright and his wife Kristi of Haslet; grandchildren, Jonathan Wright, Julianne Wright (deceased), Rachel Hayes, Laura West, Emily Zimmerman, Caleb Holt, Jenny Nelson, Kelli Jameson, Alexandra Wright, Madelyn Wright and Meghan Holmes; great-grandchildren, Caitlyn Holt, Alex Nelson, Jaxon Wright, Harper Wright, Trinity Wright, Trooper Wright, Grayson Wright, Autumn West, Carter West and Bridger Hayes.

Norman was preceded in death by his brother, Maurice D. Wright of Albuquerque, N.M. and granddaughter Julianne Wright of Plainview, Texas, and by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Norman & Louise Wright Endowed Scholarship, c/o Wayland Baptist University, 1900 W. Seventh St., Plainview, TX 79072 or First Baptist Church, 205 W. Eighth St., Plainview, TX 79072.