Thomas Ullery Wright

Thomas Ullery Wright was born on May 25, 1925, and he passed away at age 93 on July 10, 2018.  Though he lived with his daughter Jan Ellen Barger and her family in Kansas for the past two years, his heart never left Fairborn, Ohio, his residence for the other 91 years.  A 1943 graduate of Bath High School and a 1950 graduate of Miami University, Tom served in the Navy during World War II. He was employed by Southwestern Portland Cement Company starting in 1962 and was named its chief chemist seven years later; he worked there for more than thirty years.  Tom was extremely involved in the Fairborn High School Athletic Boosters Club and the Fairborn (St. Luke) United Methodist Church; additionally, he took a major role in planning and executing the design of Community Park East. He was an athlete and a coach throughout his life, working with the Fairborn Little League and Fairborn Babe Ruth Baseball organizations, and he was a walking encyclopedia of Ohio State football knowledge.  Tom was married to Jeanne Hines for 62 years, and together, they made a formidable team in the Fairborn community. They were parents of five children: Gary Evan, Karen Lynn (Hayes), Jan Ellen (Barger), Thomas Hines, and Barbara Ann. Together, they had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his sons, his wife, and his daughter Karen. He is survived by his daughters Jan and Barbara, by his brother Paul Richard (Marian) Wright, by brother-in-law Jim Grigsby, and by sister-in-law Nancy Hines.  A funeral service will be held on Monday July 16, 2018 at 12:00 P.M. at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn, Pastor Steve Hayes officiating.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service.  Burial will follow at the Byron Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make memorial contributions to the the Karen Lynn Wright Hayes Memorial Scholarship Fund (via the Wright State University Foundation), to the Fairborn Pre-School and Daycare, or to a charity of their choice.