Walter Dee "Pops" Wright

Walter Dee "Pops" Wright, 94 years of age, of Beatrice died Friday night, June 28, 2013 at Beatrice Community Hospital. He was born in Beatrice May 14, 1919, the youngest child of Walter Dobbs Wright and Edith (Beecher) Wright. He started to work with his father at Wright Plumbing and Heating in Beatrice at age 16. He and Beva Bobbette "Bobbie" Brown were married January 22, 1939 in the First Baptist Church parsonage in Beatrice. In 1941, Dee moved his family to California and worked at Lockheed Aircraft until he was drafted in 1944. He moved them back to Beatrice to be near family while he served in the U. S. Army in the South Pacific from 1944-1946. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Beatrice to work with his father until his father's death and continued the plumbing and heating business until he closed it in 1961. Dee then moved to Lincoln and worked in the University of Nebraska job pool doing plumbing, heating, and other maintenance on the Lincoln campuses. He and Bobbie returned to Beatrice in 1973 and worked custodial and maintenance at the Gage County Courthouse until his retirement in 1981. He enjoyed construction and carpentry work, having built or remodeled his homes in Beatrice, and building a cabin on the Big Blue River near Barneston. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting, anything mechanical, gardening, and playing cards (especially Cribbage). He was also an avid fan of auto racing and supported the Gage County race track until recent years when he settled for watching NASCAR on TV. Dee remained active doing his yard work and gardening until the day before he died. He had transferred membership from First Baptist Church to Christ Church Episcopal, was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans (although his only service connected disability was loss of hearing).

He is survived by his daughter Nikki Reisen of Beatrice, daughter-in-law Becky Wright; granddaughters Willa Inbody and husband Chris; Ariel McFarland and husband Christopher; nephew Jason D. Wright and fiancee? Chanda; and great granddaughter Star Wright all of New Mexico.

He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Edith Wright, brothers John and Minor Wright, sisters Waunita Barry and Marilouise McGirr; his son Roger D. Wright (2008); and his wife Bobbie (2009).

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the Christ Church Episcopal in Beatrice with Reverend Kelley Pedersen officiating. Inurnment of his ashes will be at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Military graveside services will be provided by the Bitting-Norman Post #27, American Legion in Beatrice. There will be no viewing, but a register book will be available for signatures from 10-8:00 Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice. A memorial has been established to the Christ Church Episcopal Foundation or the donor's choice with the funeral home in charge. Sign Dee's online register book at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.