Obituary of Melville T. Wright

Melville T. Wright, Sr., of Lodi, 101 years of age, passed away in a Lodi, CA convalescent hospital on October 8, 2005. Mr. Wright was born on May 22, 1904 in Ironwood, Michigan to Thomas and Laura Wright. At the age of fourteen, Mel went to work for a drayage company. Later he attended Wisconsin State Universities at Stout and Superior Wisconsin. He coached under the supervision of renowned football great, Knute Rockne. He also obtained further education at Indiana State University, Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois and Elgin Community College. Mel was teaching in Richmond, Indiana where he met and then later married Bess Ingersol on June 12, 1927. They returned to Elgin, Illinois a few years later. He taught industrial arts and coached in Elgin, Illinois school system for 43 years. He retired in 1968. After retirement, they traveled. He enjoyed music, reading, but most importantly, being with his family and corresponding to them even up until very recently. He was a 75 year member of the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Wright is survived by his daughters, Jean (Wesley) Voss of Sacramento, Eleanor (Norman) Biggs of Livingston, TX; son, Tom ( Joan) Wright of Lodi; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bess Wright, of 50 years in 1978; siblings, Ethel Colenso, Leola Murphy, Gladys Johnston, Kenneth Wright, Frank Colenso and Homer Wright. A chapel service will be held on Saturday at 2:00 PM at Lodi Funeral Home. Committal will be private. Vistation will be Friday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, continuing Saturday from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St.; Dallas, Tx 75219-3993 or Fairmont Rehabilitation Hospital Activity Fund, 950 S. Fairmont Avenue, Lodi, CA 95240