Raymond Alfred WrightwasbornJanuary 23, 1924, to Everett and Zella (Ralston) Wright, at Agra, Oklahoma.
He went to his heavenly home May 6, 2024, at the age of 100 years, three months and 13 days.
He was the third child of 14 children. During his younger years he assisted his parents with chores and tending to his younger siblings. He was allowed to attend Victor school up to the eighth grade where he met his sweetheart, Vina.
His dad requested him to work on the farm and provide financial assistance, even after he left home for California, where he lived and worked with an Italian family until getting drafted into the Army during WWII. He served as a medic in Germany for 10 months.
While on leave he was baptized in April 1945, into the Church of the First Born, at the Gin Pond in Parkland, by Brother Willie Evans.
Before his discharge he returned home and married the love of his life, Vina Greenfield, on Sept 27, 1946. To this union three daughters were born - June, Peggy and Rhonda. They started their life together in Tulare, California, where he milked cows. They returned to Oklahoma in 1951 where they lived until God called Vina home in 1972.
Two years later he married Marilyn Daniel. Raymond promised her 50 years and they had 49 years together before her passing last year.
Raymond wore many hats. He worked for 17 years selling and repairing boats, motors then appliances. He then owned and operated full-service gas stations in Chandler and Stroud.
He retired from Budget but continued to mow yards for his church and widowed ladies.
He loved to water ski, bowling, playing the harmonica, working jigsaw puzzles and wood working. Raymond is preceded in death by his parents; both wives; daughter, June Crouch; brothers, Louis, Marion, George, Gilbert, Frank and Herbert (Bud); sisters, Mildred, Doris, Baby Girl, Nora and Mary.
He is survived by daughters, Peggy Crouch and husband Gary, Rhonda Manuel and husband Larry; grandchildren, Caressa, Randy, Lacey, Curtis, Lance, Sheilene, Jenna, Chantz, Andrew and Ricky; great grandchildren, Magyver, Currin, Dax, Zya, Cali, Bella Sue, Cashion, Eden, Raylyn, and two on the way; great-great granddaughters, Izzy, Laiklyn and one on the way; brother, Gerald; sister, Marti Sikes; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Fisher.
Raymond never met a stranger and to know him was to love him. He strove to be a kind, caring and loving person who believed in his God.
It’s impossible to put 100 years of living down on paper, but thankfully we were able to hear many, many, stories during the last 8 months of his life.
Funeral services for Raymond were held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Chandler Church of the First Born, Chandler, Oklahoma. Condolences can be expressed at www.parksbrothers.net. Services were in the care of Parks Brothers Funeral Service, Chandler, Oklahoma.