Eldon Leroy Wright

Obituary

Eldon Leroy Wright

February 25, 1938 – August 24, 2025

Eldon Leroy Wright, 87, passed away at the Washakie Medical Center in Worland, Wyoming on August 24, 2025. He was born on February 25, 1938, in Imogene, Iowa, the youngest of three children born to Wilbur W. and Francis (White) Wright. He grew up in a small town in Iowa, graduating from Farragut High School in 1956. Like many families in rural America during the Great Depression and into World War II, Eldon, his brother and sister helped their father run a trap line before school and worked in the fields after school. Growing up in poverty gave him a real appreciation for taking care of what he had. The strong work ethic he developed as a young person followed Eldon into his future endeavors. He was not afraid of hard work.

He had a thirst for knowledge and attended the University of Kansas, University of Omaha and Midland Lutheran at Fremont, Nebraska, all while being employed at the Union Pacific Railroad. He would flunk a pop quiz in one of his first classes of the day because he couldn't get to class on time due to his work schedule.

In 1963 Eldon was drafted into the US Army where he served his country for the next nineteen months. Following his military service, he was employed by Burlington Northern Railroad for the next 38 years. He served all over in their system, first as an instructor for computer programming and later as a clerk in Worland, where he met his wife, Jean. He retired from the Greybull, Wyoming depot in 1995.

Eldon loved his time on the golf course, hunting, fishing and watching the wildlife. He had the honor of making a hole-in-one (a double eagle) on the first hole at the Green Hills Golf Course, a quite rare occurrence! Eldon's first love, however, was street rodding in his 1935 Chevrolet and motorcycle riding. He drove his street rod through all the lower fifty United States and Canada with Jean riding shotgun by his side. He was a lifetime member of the National Street Rod Association and for many years, was the Wyoming State Representative for the organization. Everyone knew Eldon and his street rod!

Eldon and Jean owned Travel wRight and when they weren't driving around the country in his street rod or riding his motorcycle, they traveled the world. One of his most favorite trips was the Wildlife Safari in Kenya, Africa. He also loved the trips to Jamaica, where he enjoyed visiting with the locals. Eldon could be found most mornings in a coffee shop shooting the breeze or solving the country's problems with his fellow coffee buddies. So many people knew Eldon, and he will be sorely missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Kenneth, sister, Marian Garland and nephew Walter Garland. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jean, a nephew, John Garland and niece, Fran Garland along with several cousins.

A private family internment has taken place at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Post #44. Checks may be sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.