W. A. Wright of Ponca City, Oklahoma, died Sunday, March 8, 2009, at his home in Ponca City at the age of 82 years.

W. A. Wright was born on November 27, 1926, in Avery, Oklahoma, to Simeon Everett and Bertha Mae (Smithson) Wright. He grew up in the Avery area attending Raven Dale School, Oak Grove School and Stroud High School. Following his education he married Helen Irene Brown on January 12, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas, and they settled in Drumright, Oklahoma, where he farmed and worked on the pipeline. He later owned and operated a Mobil Service Station before working as a driller in the oilfield. In 1956 they moved to Richmond, California, where he worked as a machinist at Parsons Automatic Scale Company in Berkley. In 1959 he began the W. A. Motors Company in Richmond and San Pablo and sold cars for forty years retiring in 1998. In 1999 they moved to Ponca City to make their home and be near family. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Ponca City. He enjoyed coon hunting, elk hunting, horses and family.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Irene Wright of Ponca City, Oklahoma; a son, Lanny Wright of Ponca City, Oklahoma; three daughters, Sharon Wiseman and husband Dennis of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Darlene LaBlue and husband Jim of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Rebekah Bennett and husband Michael of Pittsburgh, California; a sister, Blanche Bateman of Drumright, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Brian Wiseman and wife Karen of Branson, Missouri, Dean Allen and wife Kathy of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Deon Allen of Wichita, Kansas, Sheldon Barton of Pittsburg, California, Gaylene Barton of Martinez, California, Pierce Wright of Pittsburg, California, Maryelizabeth Wright of Bay Point, California, and Sterling Bennett of Pittsburg, California; four great grandchildren, Austin Allen of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Madison, Mason and Jackson Allen of Wichita, Kansas; one great great grandchild, Dawson Allen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Thelma McAlester, Dorothy Shaver and Laura Cramer; and five brothers, Erman Hubbard, Lester, Burt, Leroy and Dewey Wright.

Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 13th in the First Assembly of God Church in Ponca City with the Rev. Micah Wells of the First Assembly of God Church in Ponca City and the Rev. Brian Wiseman of Tri Lakes Church in Branson, Missouri. Burial will follow in the Longwood Cemetery in Ponca City.

Casketbearers will be Michael Bennett, Jeff Shaver, Darrell Johnson, John Kepka, Jimmy Greenhagen and Richard Smith.

A memorial has been established with the First Assembly of God Church Building Fund, in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.