Walton Reid Wright, Sr., 86, longtime resident of Raleigh, passed away in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 22, 2019 after a long illness. He was the son of Hobart Wright and Nellie Marlow Wright. Reid was born on August 3, 1932 in North Wilkesboro, NC. He attended the public schools of Wilkes County and later attended NC State University. Prior to attending NCSU, he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War in photo reconnaissance and was on the competitive sharp shooting team.

He was united in matrimony in October 1951 with Bessie Ball Wright; she preceded him in death in January 2007. This union was blessed with 3 children: Pamala Williford (Benny) of Raleigh, Debra Adams (Daniel) of White Bear Lake, MN and Walton Reid Wright, Jr. (Colleen) of Raleigh. In addition to his children, he is survived by seven grandchildren: Brad Williford (Heather), Eric Adams (Andrea), Emily Black (Paul), Walton Reid Wright, III (Misty), Kent Williford (Candace), Loree Mitchell (Baldwin), and Charles Adams (Elizabeth) and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Mr. Wright was an entrepreneur and was the owner of Ridgewood Pet and Hobby and a number of other successful small businesses and real estate ventures. He was always curious and a lover of knowledge and sought to learn all he could on a variety of subjects and encouraged his children and grandchildren to study whatever interested them and learn all they could.

Mr. Wright married Barbara McAllister in October 2012. He has three step- children: Brian Rorie (Liz), Chad Rorie (Caroline) and Lael Allen (Joel) and eight step-grandchildren.

The visitation and funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5060 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC. The visitation will be at 10:00 AM followed by the funeral service at 11:30 AM. Interment will be at the Ball Family Cemetery in North Wilkesboro at 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers a donation to the LDS Missionary Fund is requested. Donations can be made at: https://ldsp-pay.ldschurch.org