Agnita Wright Dupree

DECATUR - Agnita Wright Dupree, of Ithaca, N.Y., died Monday (April 29, 2006). Bangs Funeral Home, Ithaca, N.Y., is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: American Friends Service Committee, AFSC Development, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelpha, PA, 19102. Agnita Marie Greisen was born May 13, 1916, in Perth Amboy, N.J., the daughter of Ingvard and Signa Greisen, a close-knit family of Danish immigrants. Danish traditions were important throughout her life. Agnita graduated at age 16 from Perth Amboy High School in 1932 and was given the "Girl of the Year" award. In 1936 she graduated with a degree in sociology from New Jersey State College for Women (Douglass College), now a part of Rutgers University. Later that year she began graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh while working as a social worker at Kingsley House, a neighborhood settlement house. Here Agnita met Charles F. Wright, also a social worker. They were married April 16, 1938. They lived for a time in Madison, N.J., and then in New Haven, Conn. In 1946, the Wrights moved to Flushing, N.Y., where they lived for eight years. They had four children between 1941 and 1949. In 1950, Agnita began teaching elementary school and taught for many years in New York, Minnesota and Illinois. Before her retirement, she was director of Compensatory Education in Decatur. Agnita had master's degrees in social work (Queens College) and elementary education (University of Minnesota). Her family lived in Minneapolis from 1954 until 1963, then for three years in Chicago. Chuck and Nita moved to Decatur in 1965. Their house in the woods outside of Decatur, "Old Hickory," was a gathering place for friends and family. Charles Wright died in 1980, and in 1984, Agnita married Alfred E. Dupree, a close family friend. Al and Nita moved to Asheville, N.C., in 1993 and lived there until Al's death in July 2005. Agnita and Charles Wright became members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in the early years of their marriage. Friends Meeting was central to their lives and the lives of their children. Alfred Dupree and his first wife, Margo, were also active Friends. Agnita had leadership roles in Flushing, N.Y.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; and Decatur meetings. She was a very familiar face at the Illinois Yearly Meeting. Her lecture, "The Widening Circle," was delivered as part of the Plummer Series in 1984. She is survived by her son, Gavin Wright and daughter-in-law, Cathe; daughters, Kristin Louden and son-in-law, Richard; Robin Sible and son-in-law, Lynn; Lisa Eisenberg and son-in-law, Ted; grandchildren, Michael Louden and his wife, Diana Nelson Louden, Rebecca Louden, Anders Wright and his wife, Lisa Porter, Nick Wright, Madeline Bryant and her husband Bambaata, Emily Sible, Kate Eisenberg and her husband Aaron Blumkin, Annie Eisenberg and Tom Eisenberg; great-grandchildren, Emily Louden and Daisy Wright; stepchildren, Martha Wolfsen, Caroline Lanker and James Dupree; brother, Kenneth Greisen. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Everyone who met Nita was drawn to this charming and vital woman. She had innumerable friends throughout the United States. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp