2012 Firefighter Fishing Tournament	1973 yearbook	From the obituary

Retired Captain John Wright from station 44, passed away at his home in Deland Thursday August 16th, 2012.
Following his retirement from JFRD, he became the Chief of Deland Florida Fire Department.

The Wright family asks for your prayers.

Memorial service was as follows:

1927 - 2012. Chief John Charles Wright, Jr. died at home on August 16 2012, following a lengthy illness. Chief Wright was preceded in death by his parents Rev. John Charles Wright, Sr., and Mattie Lou Cruse Wright; his first wife Joyce Fletcher Wright; and his sisters Iris Jeannette Wright Howell and Burma Jean Wright Stafford. Survivors include his loving wife Bert Lauth Wright; son, John Charles Wright, III; daughters Donna Jean Wright Curtis and Joyce Wright Woods; and one sister, Sue Wright-Barron of Asheville, NC. Also left to cherish his memory are four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Chief Wright attended San Marcos Military Academy in San Marcos, Texas, and Villanova University. He served in the Navy following college. He joined the Jacksonville Fire Department in 1956 and retired in 1978. Immediately following his retirement from the Jacksonville Fire Department, he became Chief of the City of DeLand and retired again in 1996. From the beginning of Chief Wright's career, he was instrumental in upgrading the Volunteer Fire Department System in Jacksonville. Chief Wright led in upgrading educational standards for Florida firemen while he was president of the Florida Firemen's Association. He helped implement the Florida Firemen's Minimum Standards. Chief Wright was involved in the leadership that led to the opening of the Firefighters Memorial in Ocala as well as the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. Services were Saturday, August 18, 2012 at Stetson Baptist Church, 1025 West Minnesota Avenue at 1:00 p.m. The family received friends following the service. Officiating was Rev. Carl Whiddon and Chaplain Sue Wright-Barron. In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations be made to Haven Hospice, 211 North Amelia Avenue, DeLand, Florida, 32724. The family wishes to thank the Hospice caregivers and nurses, Scott Thorsen, and Volusia County Fire Services and for assisting the family in times of crises. Without their help the family would not have been able to accomplish what was necessary during Chief Wright's lengthy illness. The family also expresses their gratitude to the firemen and friends in Jacksonville.

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