Thomas Blunk Wright , 94, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, December 14, 2015, in Springfield, Missouri. He was born February 15, 1921 in Doniphan, Missouri. Tom graduated from Doniphan H.S. in 1938. Following graduation he attended the University of Missouri. In 1939, Tom auditioned and was accepted into the United States Navy School of Music located in Washington, D.C., starting his service in July of that year. He proudly served his country in a variety of both musical and naval seaman duties during World War II, until his honorable discharge in August of 1945.   After completing his education at the University of Missouri, Tom worked at a number of jobs, including one at Hoover Music in Springfield, before retiring from teaching high school music and marching band in southern Illinois. He shared his love of music with his students, and his school bands proudly won a number of regional awards and trophies. During his teaching years, Tom was part of a band that performed every weekend at the famous Purple Krackle Night Club near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He composed many of their selections. In "retirement," Tom was often called upon to stand in as a musician for a variety of Branson shows. Besides the life-long passion Tom developed for music, from the time he was a youngster listening to the Big Bands on his cherished radio, Tom loved fishing along the Current River, and he was quite an accomplished high school basketball star. In later years he became an avid golfer and racked up a room of trophies. Tom was a Cardinal Baseball fan, often reminiscing about the legendary players from their many great seasons, and eleven Championships, all during his lifetime. He loved animals but especially dogs, who recognized his spirit and compassion and were devoted to him. He is especially beloved by all who were fortunate to know him for his amazing sense of humor and his gift for storytelling and the most jokes and the funniest jokes you have ever heard!   Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Meckling Wright and Jessie Blunk Wright, both of Doniphan, Missouri, and by his beloved sister, Mary Ann Wright Kolze, and her husband, Vernon William Kolze, M.D. Tom is survived by his two nephews: (1) Vernon William "Bill" Kolze, Jr. and his wife, Marcia Ellen of Borger, Texas, and their children, Christopher Thomas Kolze, M.D. of Knoxville, Tennessee and Emily Ann Kolze and her daughter, Lynnlee of Borger, Texas. (2) Thomas Joseph Kolze, Ph.D. and his wife, Linda Sue of Phoenix, Arizona, and their daughters, MaryJo Alicia Kolze of Fairfax, Virginia, and LoriAnne Amelia Kolze of Phoenix, Arizona. Tom is also survived by his close cousin, Thomas Fowler, and his wife, Linda, and their children and grandchildren, all of Springfield, and a number of other cousins living out of the area.   Visitation will be held Friday, December 18 at 11:30 am, followed by a Memorial Service at 12:30 pm at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, 1947 East Seminole, Springfield. Interment will immediately follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Lake Springfield.