William H. "Bill" Wright, 93, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2016. The son of O.K. and Frances Wright, he was born in Kansas City, MO on January 29, 1923. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Marilyn Ruth Mackey Wright. They were married in Kansas City on October 25, 1947 and have made their home in Springfield since 1965.

Bill and Marilyn have two children who survive him: Stephen K. (and Sue) Wright of Albuquerque, NM and David W. (and April) Wright of Ann Arbor, MI. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Will, John, Thomas and Katie Wright.

He was an Eagle Scout and a proud member in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. During World War II he served with the 100th Infantry Division in the European Theatre. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster, Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, MO.

Following his discharge from the Army in March 1946, Bill graduated from the University of Kansas in 1947where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He made a career as a sales representative in the carpet and furniture industry and was familiar with every small town in his territory throughout much of Missouri and northern Arkansas. Upon retirement in 1984 he began a second career as a pen and ink artist. He was a charter member of Studio 55 Fine Arts Guild. His highly detailed architectural renderings of local homes, churches, businesses, and landmarks are well known throughout the Ozarks area. Many of his drawings are on display in various libraries, private residencies, and businesses both in and around Springfield and throughout the United States.

Along with his wife, Marilyn, Bill was a member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church and, previously, National Avenue Christian Church. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a generous man of deep faith, a humble artist, a loving father and husband, and a man who epitomized in the truest sense of the word the character of a "gentleman". Visitation will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 from 6 to 7:00 p.m. There will be a celebration of his life on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org), or a charity of the donor's choice.