Richard Wright

Richard "Dick" Wright was born in Marlborough, Mass., in 1938. He lived, worked, and raised his two children in New England until 1985. He, his wife, Jean, and daughter, Kim, then lived in Columbia, S.C., until 1999, when he and Jean moved to Grants to retire.



Their life in Grants was anything but "retired." Dick and Jean were active for many years in the local geology club, AARP, and the arts council. A gifted mechanic and skilled builder, he was always willing to take on projects for family, friends, and neighbors. He also was an artist who painted, built custom doll houses, and shaped walking staffs from natural materials.



Dick was a lifelong hunter, fisherman, and hiker. In the 1950s, he traveled the world as a machinist in U.S. Navy. In the 1960s, he was a two-time Massachusetts state archery champion. He also was a self-taught historian, and many of his frequent road trips were to see for himself the places he'd read about. He was also a dedicated father and grandfather who believed in including his children and grandchildren in his travels, explorations, hobbies, and crafts.



Dick was a devoted husband to Jean, his wife of 55 years. He passed away January 23, 2014. He is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Sarah Wright, of Durango, Colo.; his daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Bill Brown, of Columbia, S.C.; his grandchildren Webb and Anna Wright, Justin Nicolai, and Jessica Vigil, wife of Grants native George M Vigil.