Francis Wright

Francis James Wright Jr., 79 of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away June 2, 2022 at the Terrace of Bay Ridge Assisted Living Center. He was born January 25, 1943, in St Joseph, Missouri to Francis James Wright and Thelma Gibson Wright. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jacqueline Hall Wright; his sons Patrick and wife Bobbi of Midland; Thomas and wife Lauren of Denver; and son Andrew and wife Nicki of Ann Arbor; and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Thomas and his family in St. Joseph and seven nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Diana Hall Jones. Jim’s life revolved around his family and his vocation – fixed wing flying. After graduating from the Coast Guard Academy where as a Cadet he marched in President Kennedy’s funeral procession, he did shipboard tours on the USCGC Pontchartrain and the USCGC Minnetonka. But as the son of a Pan Am pilot, Jim wanted to be a Coast Guard Aviator. After flight training in Pensacola, Florida and Corpus Christi, Texas, Jim was sent to Port Angeles, Washington and Mobile, Alabama where he flew Search and rescue patrols and did the test flying that led to the Coast Guard’s procurement of the HU-25A. Jim also completed two tours in Kodiak, Alaska, flying C-130s and a tour at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans working on law enforcement and drug interdiction. Jim’s last Coast Guard assignment was at Traverse City as the Commanding Officer at the Air Station from 1983 to 1985. Jim considered flying in Alaska the most challenging as well as his most rewarding time in the Coast Guard. One highlight, in 1980, was his involvement in the rescue of 519 passengers of the M/V Prinsendam, before it sank. The danger of the Alaskan flying environment was real. The station suffered two fatal accidents during his second Kodiak tour and pilots needed diligence, situational awareness and teamwork to succeed. His family has taken great pride over the years when his work colleagues and friends would complement the leadership and skills that Jim showed throughout his Coast Guard career. After leaving the Coast Guard, Jim continued flying. He started with a small regional airline, Simmons and in 1987, while in Miami, he became his family’s second Pan Am pilot. In 1992, he began flying out of Denver for United, where he flew a variety of Boeing aircraft. On September 11, 2001, while captain of a flight in the air at the time of the attacks, Jim was ordered to lock the cabin, be on alert for hijackers and land as quickly as possible to clear air space. He retired from flying in 2003. Jim’s favorite roles were husband, father and grandfather. He and Jackie were married in 1966 and raised three boys. He reveled in being the “all -time quarterback” for the family games and telling stories about his time on the undefeated USCG football team of 1963 under the tutelage of Otto Graham. His picture with Otto now hangs in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. He enjoyed coaching his children’s teams and playing golf with them and he engaged his children through their Alaskan years by captaining two boats and hiring the boys as his halibut fishing crew. Occasionally, he would provide a ride to his boys trying to help deliver the Sunday Anchorage Times during wind storms on Kodiak but mostly he ignored their complaints telling them it would build their character. The Wright house was consistently a magnet for his children’s friends largely due to the joy Jim and Jackie took in interacting with and entertaining them. They were always greeted and treated as family. Jim and Jackie enjoyed a 56-year love and partnership. After Jim retired, they spent many happy years in Parker, Colorado, where Jackie worked as an educator and Jim would volunteer at her school. They returned to Traverse City in 2017. They treasured the special relationships they made as they moved about the country and always enjoyed entertaining. After raising their family, the two were able to travel. They took trips to Ireland, England, Turkey, Greece, France, and Italy. They were both blessed to find each other. Jim never lost his sparkle or his zeal for telling a good story. He lived a full and happy life and will be dearly missed. A Memorial Mass will take place at 10:00AM, Friday, July 22, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Old Mission Peninsula. Reception to follow. Jim will be interred with Military Honors at a future date. Memorial Contributions may be made in his name to the Coast Guard Mutual Assistant Fund. Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services is caring for Francis and his family. You may view his tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com

Francis Wright

January 25, 1943 - June 2, 2022