Robert "Bob" Wright Sr.

ROBERT ALLAN ("BOB") WRIGHT, SR. ESQ.

Des Moines

Attorney Robert "Bob" Wright Sr. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2010, at Union Baptist Church, where he was a member for over 55 years. The body will lie instate from 9 a.m. until the hour of service. Pastor H. I. Thomas will offer the eulogy. Private interment to follow at the Iowa Veteran's Cemetery.
Robert was born on February 26, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Julius Wright and Myrtle Terrell. He graduated from East High School in 1943. After graduation, Bob enrolled in the United States Army and served in England, France and Germany during WWII. He was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and a Jurist of Doctor Law Degree from Drake University in 1954.
On February 23, 1946 Bob married his childhood sweetheart, Berniece Kelley, in Des Moines, Iowa. They were married for over 63 years and from this union a son and daughter were born.
Bob Wright worked as a Des Moines Police officer from 1952 to 1955. After retiring from the police force he opened his own law firm and practiced for the next 50 years.
He was known as Iowa's "Mr. Civil Rights" because of his tireless work of advancing equal opportunities for all of mankind throughout the state and nation. Bob was a member of various civic organizations including: the NAACP, Sigma Pi Phi, (Boule), North Star #2 Masonic Lodge, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, National Bar Association, and the Iowa State Bar Association.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Julius Wright: mother, Myrtle Terrell: brother, James Wright: sister, Gertrude Godfrey; uncle, Sammie McCann; grandmother, Gertrude McCann and grandfather Fred McCann.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Berniece; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Cookie Wright Jr.; daughter and son-in-law, Charmayne and Ray Brown; sister, Geraldine Daniels; grandchildren, Shana Price of Huntsville, Al, Kristy Matthews of San Diego, CA, Arica (Jermain) Wright-Henderson, De Angela "Nikki" (J.C.) Wright-Guzman both of Des Moines, Chane ("Craig") Price of Chicago, IL, Robert Wright III ("Trey"), Ashley Wright; great- grandchildren, Jalynn Guzman, and Elijah Guzman. He is also survived by a host of, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, associates, and church family.
Visitation for Robert Wright Sr. will be held at Highland Park Funeral Home, from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday. The family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. A tribute service will begin at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be submitted to Mercy Hospice, Johnston, Iowa or the NAACP Des Moines Branch.