James Calvin Wright

James Calvin Wright, was born August 21, 1932, in Bladenboro, NC to Jack Guy Wright and AnnieBell Pait. He passed away on June 26, 2024, at the blessed age of 91 years.
The 3rd of 6 children that lived on a farm with his Grandparents, Kenyon Wright and Sara Soles.
Known as JC, he credits his grandfather for his love of reading with favorites like Moby Dick, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Robinson Crusoe, to name a few. Later on, he enjoyed science fiction by his favorite author Isaac Asimov. His inquisitive nature was also nourished with interests in mechanical things, cars, tractors and bicycles. He said that he built his first bicycle. His jobs on the farm were bringing the wood in for the kitchen stove and hitching up the mules to the wagon.
He attended Parkton High School where he was a member of the baseball team which became his favorite sport. After high school, he worked in the cotton mill but wanted to see the world, so he enlisted in the US Army 1952. Assigned to supply support, he was stationed in Germany then to France. In 1954 while out riding his motorcycle, he visited a small French town and met a beautiful girl named Jacqueline (Jackie) Chesneau. Even though they had a bit of a language challenge they managed to court and married May 28,1955. He returned to the US in 1956 with wife and 1st born daughter.
During his military career, he was involved with sports, especially baseball, basketball and ping-pong. He was blessed with assignments all over the world. He worked on satellite mapping and early development of GPS. He traveled to the North Pole. Served in Vietnam, Thailand and Japan. While stationed in Germany with his family he went on short assignments to US Army bases. We traveled extensively to France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Holland. We got to visit many historical places. Rome, Vatican City, Pisa, Venice, Paris, Munich, Swiss Alps and camping on the Riviera. A lifetime of memories together. Retiring in 1972 in North Carolina with his now larger family, he bought a farm in St. Pauls where he took on some various civilian jobs. He worked for McLean Trucking as a billing clerk, delivering bulk newspapers for News and Observer and Cheseborough Ponds (now Unilever) in Red Springs. Although these jobs got the bills paid, he started farming soybeans and cutting lumber from trees with a portable sawmill for himself and customers. One of his joys was bowling with Jackie. He also did the Senior Olympics for several years participating in broad jump, baseball, football throw and bowling winning gold medals in some events. He tried his hand at golf but didn't quite get the hang of it.
Then in 1995 the love of his life became ill and passed away in January 1996. They had been together 42 years. He spent many years on the farm doing what he loved. Building became a favorite pastime. He built a BBQ hut in the yard as well as pens for the ducks that Jackie loved. A wash station for the garden vegetables to be cleaned. He built several storage buildings for his kids and decks with screened in rooms.
2015 found him beginning to have some memory problems so he sold his farm and came to stay in Durham, for a while, then Cary. Spending time with his grandchildren became his greatest joy.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and AnnieBell Wright, his beloved wife, Jacqueline (Jackie) Chesneau a brother Richard Wright, sisters; Maxine Mumaw, Sarah Hoffman and Pauline Lancaster.
He is survived by his sister Linda Bryant.
His children: Patricia Garrett (Glenn), Lee Kreuscher (Roger), Michelle Cooney (Ed), Nancy Raby (Lee) and James II (Pam).
His Grandchildren; Rebecca Garrett, Christopher Garrett (Maura), Cassandra Pettus (Garret), James Raby, Gideon Keith, Alexandra Kreuscher (Michael Young) and James Wright III (Lauren)
His Great Grandchildren; Matthew Gray, Abigail Smith, Jackson Garrett, Wesley Wright, Landon Wright, Saby Pettus, Evelyn Pettus.
Some favorite sayings: "If it's gonna rain, I'm gonna let it" "Wherever you go, there you are"
"you're a poet and don't know it but your feet show it. they're Longfellow's"
When we would head out on a trip; "And we are off like a herd of Turtles"
Not much of a TV fan, he did enjoy watching baseball games (while napping) and The Big Bang Theory.
Favorite songs; Amazing Grace, Delta Dawn (Helen Reddy), Tie me Kangaroo down sport (Rolf Harris), Waltzing Matilda (Marie Cohen), Proud Mary (CCR), Up around the Bend (CCR)
A visitation and time of remembrance will be held, Sunday, July 7, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Boles - Saint Pauls Funeral Home, 565 W. McLean St., St. Pauls, NC 28384. A Graveside service with Military Honors will be held Monday, July 8, 2024, at 11:00 am. at Fort Liberty Main Post Cemetery, Spring Lake, NC 28390.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at.
The family is in the care of Boles-Saint Pauls Funeral Home.