John D. Wright

John D. “Bo” Wright, age 77, sadly passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024
at his home in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
Born on May 8, 1946, he grew up in Aiken, South Carolina and was preceded in death by his parents:
His Mother, June Marie Wright (2004)
and Father, Fay E. Wright (2006)
as well as his 3 siblings:
Brother, Dwight “Butch” Lawrence Wright (2023),
Brother, Foster “Bucky” Eugene Wright (2001),
and Sister, Charlotte “Betsy” Irene Wright (1963) at the age of 13
due to health complications.

Mr. Wright leaves behind 4 grown children:
a stepson, 2 daughters and 1 son.
Plus, multiple grandchildren as well as several great-grandchildren.

John married his high school sweetheart in 1964 and that 6-year
marriage produced 2 daughters:
Candace Marie Wright (Nelms) age 59 in Lexington, SC.
and Lisa Michelle Wright (Braley) age 57 in Billings, MT.
His daughters gave him 3 grandchildren:
Maranda Wright (Candace) and
Brittany Braley (Lisa) as well as
Kolton Braley (Lisa) who sadly, preceded him in death (2019)
at the young age of 24 in a tragic house fire.

John had a second short marriage in 1971 that produced a son:
John Cothrin Matthews “JJ”, age 50 in Saluda, SC.
His son added a grand-daughter:
Jaclyn Montana Matthews (Padgett)
Both, who in recent years, he was able to meet.

John also leaves behind, a special niece (daughter of late brother Larry)
Sharon “Sherry” Wright, age 51, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

In the mid-seventies John traveled north to Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh
became his new home base for the last fifty years. In Pittsburgh he met and
married the “love of his life” in 1976, Lee E. Wright (Schalles) of Swissvale.

They were married 43 years till her heartbreaking passing in June 2019.
John leaves behind his stepson, Dale “Gary” McCulley, age 65, who
resides in the Pittsburgh area, and 4 wonderful grown step grandchildren,
as well as a huge caring large family, by marriage, in the Pittsburgh area.

Mr. Wright would often acknowledge that the love and care that his late
wife, Lee, gave to him in his lifetime was what eventually forced him into
becoming the “new kinder gentler John” as he titled himself and attempted
to become. Lee’s large family embraced and loved John throughout the
fifty years he resided in the area and even more so after the passing of
their sister, Lee.

John lived a very “colorful” life and he left a very bold impression on
Anyone he came across. He knew and had a long list of friends, close
Acquaintances and love ones throughout the US from Pittsburgh to
South Carolina, Savannah Georgia and Louisiana. Much too many to name.

John was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers football fan and loved watching
the games. He had great enthusiasm for Harley motorcycles especially
with his late brother, Larry and enjoyed being with his stepson, Gary, who
has a longtime passion and great talent for muscle race cars and motorcycles.

John really enjoyed nature and would often retreat up north to camp,
a property owned by longtime close friends from Louisiana, near the
Allegheny National Forest for peace and solitude.

In John’s retirement years he worked at Home Depot, up until a few years ago, and he thoroughly enjoyed his work there and took great pride in that work. He met many friends there and participated in and won a “Chili making” contest while employed there.

John and his late wife, Lee, made friends with a young couple, in their neighborhood and through John working at Home Depot. They became friendly and close with both Lee and John and in John’s last years, without his wife Lee, were a constant in his life, assisting him and showing care in the friendship up to the date of his death. He leaves these friends behind, Ashley and Matt.

Mr. Wright’s remains, as he arranged and requested, have been cremated
and no public service will be held.
In lieu of condolences, flowers and well wishes – the family requests that
you make a donation to your favorite endearing charity, as you wish.

In summary, John Wright lived his life “his way” all the way up to the end.
Rest easy Mr. Wright, John, Bo, Daddy, Dad, Pap, Grandfather, Friend, Neighbor, etc.
We will take it from here.
Godspeed.
Love & Light.