Homer ‘Dean’ Wright

Homer “Dean” Wright, age 88, of Issaquah, died Nov. 13, 2011, in Spokane.

He was born on Dec. 3, 1922, in Walla Walla, to Lola and Preston “Woody” Wright.

The youngest of four children, he is survived by his beloved big sister, Shirley Yager of Othello.

He graduated from Lind High School and joined the US Navy at the age of 19. As part of the Navy medical corps during World War II, he was attached to the Marines in the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He was a lifelong member of the VFW.

He married Mary Thompson in 1949 in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, and they were married until her death in 1994.

He was married to Joann Strohmeier for 10 years until her death in 2008.

He worked for several years on the Wright wheat farm in Lind, as well as the Thompson farm in Connell.

He and his family moved to Seattle in 1955 where he worked as a mason at the University of Washington for 25 years. He was an avid recruiter and proud supporter of the University all his life.

It has been said that he never forgot a face or a name.

He will be remembered for living a life of hard work, integrity, courage, patience, kindness and love for family and friends. His positive and humorous outlook on life was an inspiration.

He was preceded in death by his son-in-law Michael Shea earlier this year.

He is survived by his children, Cathy (George) Benedetti of Yakima, Evvy Wright-Shea of Kirkland, Homer Shannon Wright of Issaquah, Colin Wright of Spokane; grandchildren Angela Backman of Kirkland, Jesse (Stacey) Benedetti of Yakima, and Gina (Francesco Baldo) Benedetti of Yakima; great-grandchildren Riley, Haley, and Beaudry Benedetti of Yakima; cousin, Carol (Bob) Rae of Mill Creek, and numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family of whom he was very fond.

Funeral services were in Ritzville Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at Danekas Funeral Home with a reception afterward at Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

Interment was at the Hillside Cemetery in Issaquah on Nov. 21, with a reception afterward at Flintoff’s funeral home in Issaquah.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the University of Washington Scholarship Fund (https://www.washington.edu/giving/make-a-gift).