COMMERCE AND HIGHLANDS – William Colquitt “Bill” Wright, 92, died peacefully under the care of family and hospice at Athens Regional Hospital on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
He was born on May 6, 1920, the son of the late Frank and Ethel Wright in Commerce, Georgia. He graduated from Commerce High School and married Doris Scales Wright (d.2004). During World War II he served in the Pacific theater as a medic with the United States Army. When the US forces invaded Okinawa, he was injured by a land mind, and received an honorable discharge and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Bill started a successful building supply business with a borrowed truck by going to Savannah, Georgia in search of materials to bring to Commerce and North Georgia. He acquired an Ace Hardware franchise and expanded his business to include sporting goods and gifts where he served the residents of Commerce and the surrounding area for decades. Bill was the consummate sportsman and although fishing was his love, he also enjoyed hunting and the outdoors. Very few Braves games or Georgia football games went unwatched by Bill. He bravely held Georgia basketball tickets for many years. He and his family were members of First United Methodist Church of Commerce. Bill was a true Southern gentleman that always exhibited kindness, generosity, and humility. He was truly a gentle man. He will be sorely missed by those who survive him which include his wife, Imogene M Wright (m.2007) of Commerce; daughters Frankie Anne Cook of Athens; Paulette Wright Arnold of Birmingham, Ala.; son-in-law, J. Vincent Cook of Athens; siblings, Lucille Singleton of Dillard; James (Sara) Wright of Cornelia; grandchildren, Lea Anne (Jeff) Wallace of Savannah; Robert (Beth) Arnold, Jr. Of Seneca, S.C.; Aimee (Brett) Forbus of Mountain Brook, Ala.; Jay Wright (Lauren) Cook of Athens; great-grandchildren, Anne Keese and Wright Wallace, Josh, Isaac, Benjamin, Robyn, Timothy, and Jessie Arnold; Will and Camp Forbus; J Wright Cook Jr., and in December John Britton Cook; step-children, Janice M Garrison of Commerce; Tim (Joy) McCollum of Toccoa; step-grandchildren, Kevin Garrison, Shell Withers, Kimberly McCollum, Lee Ann McCollum, Paige (Drew) Watson; step-great-grandchild, Lauren Withers.
Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, September 2, at 3 p.m. from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with Larry Finger officiating. Interment will follow in the Jackson Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 p.m. until the time of service.
Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.
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