Andrew S. Wright Jr.

WILLIAMSBURG - Andrew Shirley Wright Jr. passed peacefully into eternal life on Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the age of 83.
Andy Wright, a retired aeronautical engineer from NASA spent his retirement years in the Williamsburg area devoting his last years to taking care of his beloved surviving wife, Dorothy Wright.
Andy Wright was born in 1926 in Richmond, Va. He loved science and engineering as a boy – designing model aircraft from the age of six. He also loved adventure and dreamed of faraway lands from early days - both dreams that he would later fulfill. His mother also had ambitions for him. Despite his family's modest beginnings, through his mother's determination that he do better than his parents, she emphasized the value of education and demanded that he complete high school. He would later go on to more than fulfill her (and his) dreams by earning a university degree, becoming a highly successful engineer at NASA, marrying an accomplished and loving wife, and raising four children all of whom would earn multiple degrees and go on to successful professional careers.
During WWII, he joined the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service, serving on the USS Barb and the USS Diodon. Although he started out as a Torpedoman, he later transitioned to Electronics Technician Second Class, and eventually left the Navy seven years later as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.
His fascination with science, engineering and adventure continued after the Navy. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then went on to participate in the greatest adventure of all – the U.S. Space Program. He worked at NASA for 32 years, and was part of the team to launch the first Mars Lander – Viking – in 1976. He later participated in the Laminar Flow program designing energy efficient wing technology. This same love of science he shared with his family, frequently discussing scientific accomplishments and principles with his children.
As children, we all remember my father as a reader and lover of classical music. He read prolifically throughout his life, often sharing new things he'd learned with us. During our youth, Dad didn't take us to sports events, instead he took us to the library and classical music concerts; thereby instilling a love of learning and the arts in his children at an early age. He also loved travel and stories of challenging adventures in remote locations such as Antarctica. Although he was not able to travel much in his middle years because of a career and a family, after retirement, he was able to spend several years criss-crossing America on long driving trips with his wife visiting various national parks and monuments such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Glacier and Crater Lake. This travel and the ability share it with his wife, were a highlight in his retirement.
The other love that Andy Wright had was fishing. The family frequently vacationed at the Outer Banks in North Carolina where he took each of his children surf fishing or out on head boats to fish. His comment upon retirement was that his goal in life was now "to make the Red Snapper extinct."
Most of all, Andy Wright's legacy to his family will be the memory of his unwavering love and support for them and his love and devotion to Jesus Christ. His family was one of the most important things in life to him. He always set the right priorities at home, demonstrating how much his wife meant to him by telling us kids "not to wear out his wife". He was extremely supportive in all our endeavors and provided encouragement and a home to come back to when needed. His Christian faith was evident in everything he did – devotion to family, commitment to the "right and moral thing to do" in every action, and an emphasis on individual devotion to God.
He will be sorely missed. He was a devoted and loving husband and a caring, supportive and mentoring father.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Mae Mapp Wright; his daughter, Deborah Effemey and her husband, Gary Effemey; his daughter, Judy Lyver; his son, Benjamin Wright; his son, Henry Wright and his wife, Lori Wright; and three grandchildren, John Lyver, V, Tom Lyver, and Lacey Wright.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Va. Burial will be at the Williamsburg Memorial Park Cemetery following the service. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home.
Flowers can be sent to Nelsen Funeral Home. Any donations can be made to the Salvation Army, Andy Wright's favorite charity. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.nelsencares.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.