Natalie P. Wright

Natalie Pinnell Wright 81, Kokomo, formerly of Indianapolis, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2007 at home. She was born on October 20, 1925 in Noblesville to the late J. Victor and Dorothy (Miller) Pinnell. She attended Shortridge High School, graduated from Tudor Hall and Sarah Lawrence College, and studied for her Masters Degree in Social Work at the New York School of Social Work, Columbia University. Mrs. Wright worked for 28 years in social work as caseworker and supervisor at the Marion County Office of Family and Children, at the Lutheran Child and Family Services, as probation officer at the Cook County (Illinois) Family Court, Chicago, and as consultant for 18 years with the Division of Family and Children, Indiana Family Social Services Administration, Indianapolis. When she retired from the State in 1998, she was honored to receive a Distinguished Hoosier Award from the then-Governor, Frank O'Bannon. Following her retirement, Mrs. Wright was an active community volunteer. She was a member of the Advisory Board of Prevent Child Abuse Howard County and secretary-treasurer of the Howard County Chapter of the Retired Indiana Public Employee Association (RIPEA). In addition, she served as treasurer and president of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kokomo. She was the widow of Art F. Wright. Survivors include: sons, Craig Wright of Springdale, Arkansas, Lindsey Wright, Apple Valley, Minnesota; stepdaughter, Janet Knight, Mineral Bluff, Georgia; two grandsons; three step-grandchildren; and six great-step-grandchildren. To honor Natalie and her life long devotion to community service work, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to: UU Fellowship of Kokomo, P.O. Box 15, Kokomo, IN 46902. A celebration of Natalie's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 26, 2007 at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kokomo, 800 S. Market Street (Corner of Harrison), Kokomo, with interment to follow at the Kokomo Memorial Park Cemetery, 1300 E. North Street, Kokomo. Friends may call at the church from Noon until service time on Saturday. Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes, Kokomo, Indiana, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.shirleyandstout.com.