Mr. Marion Wright

Marion Wright Age: 92 years A resident of rural Cypress, Illinois and a former resident of the Benton community in Johnson County. Passed away Wednesday morning, November 30, 2011, at 4:53 AM at his home. Marion was born November 18, 1919 in Simpson, Illinois. He was the son of William and Delphia (Morgan) Wright. Marion was united in marriage to Amy M. Ditterline on September 7, 1943 in Tallahassee, Florida. She preceded him in death on November 22, 2000. Marion was of the Baptist faith and attended Temple Hill Church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Marion was in the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corps) from 1937 – 1939. He later served in the U.S. Army from 1942 – 1945 in the Asiatic/Pacific theater of operation during World War II. Marion was employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet and later at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester. He retired in 1982 at the age of 63. For the next 11 years, Marion enjoyed working part-time with the U.S. Forest Service through the SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program). In earlier years, Marion loved hunting, fishing, riding his three wheeler, and spending time with his grandchildren. During later times, he continued to love spending time with his family, cheering for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren at basketball, baseball, and softball games, winning at rummy and playing pinochle with his friends at the Golden Circle. Marion also enjoyed reminiscing and visiting with friends he had made in the Civilian Conservation Corps through its reunion group activities. Marion is survived by his daughters, Sue Hemphill, and her husband Lon, of Temple Hill, IL, Pat Dennis and her significant other Mark Baker of Boynton Beach, FL, and Marilyn Wright-Verkamman of Cypress, IL; a daughter-in-law, Charlotte Ditterline of Kankakee, Il; grandchildren – David Ditterline, and his wife Tammy, Steven Ditterline, Darryl Ditterline, Kim (Hemphill) Damron, Michael Carter, Stacey (Hemphill) Weaver, Jason Dennis, Travis Verkamman, and his wife Jennifer, and Justin Verkamman. Marion is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers – Rudolph Wright of Metropolis, IL and Richard Wright of Golconda, IL; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Marion was preceded in death by: a stepson – Don Ditterline and 2 brothers – Glenn Wright and James Ward Wright. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning, December 3, 2011, at 11 AM at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Rev. Roy Hughes and Rev. Jerry Parr will officiate. Burial will be in the Temple Hill Cemetery in Pope County Illinois. Visitation will be after 5 PM Friday at Bailey Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Pope County Senior Citizens Center, 217 S. Adams St., Golconda, IL 62938 or to the Temple Hill Church, c/o Lon Hemphill, 11 Deer Ridge Road, Golconda, IL 62938.

Mr. Marion Wright

November 18, 1919 - November 30, 2011