Robert T. Wright

Wright Robert T., 91, formerly of Minnetonka, MN, died on Nov. 10, 2002 at Waukesha Memorial Hospital of Waukesha, WI. He was born in Scranton, PA, March 22, 1911, son of Howard & Clara Wright. Robert resided in Pennsylvania until the age of 11, at which time he moved to Minneapolis, MN. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1929. He served a formal four year apprenticeship at the Soo Line RR Blacksmith Shop which included night school at the William Hood Dunwoody Industrial Institute. While serving his apprenticeship on the Soo Line, received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Robert married LaVerne L. Stuss of Belfield, ND, June 24, 1937. During World War II, Robert built locomotives at the Baldwin Locomotive Works at Eddystone, PA. He and LaVerne then returned to the Wright family homestead in Factoryville, PA, where he maintained locomotives in Carbondale, PA on the Delaware and Hudson RR. In 1945, he and his family returned to the Minneapolis area, where he worked on the Soo Line Railroad, and later taught welding and blacksmithing at the Dunwoody Institute. He and his wife LaVerne moved from Minnetonka, MN to Waukesha, WI in August of 2001 to be closer to his son, Rob and family. Robert is survived by his wife of 65 years, LaVerne: his brother, James of Fresno, CA; his sons, Fredrick of Olney, IL, Thomas of Winter Garden, FL, and Robert of Waukesha, WI. Robert is further survived by daughters-in-law, Stephanie, Paula and Mary, and by 14 grandchildren & 8 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Sunset Funeral Chapel, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd NE, Mpls, on Sat., Nov. 16, at 10 am. Visitation Friday 6-8 pm at the chapel, and 1 hour prior to service. Interment Sunset Memorial Park. Memorials are being accepted at the Northern Oaks Community Church, 16625 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345. SUNSET 612-789-1535

Published on November 12, 2002