Ross Elbert Wright

Ross Elbert Wright, 94, of Cortez, Colorado, passed away June 5, 2018 at Southwest Memorial Hospital with his wife, Donna, and daughter, Alicia, by his side. Ross was born in McPherson, KS on January 19, 1924 to Ray and Grace Wright. After graduating from McPherson High, Ross was hired on a sheetrocking crew in Parsons, Kansas where he met his closest lifelong friend George Young. The two eventually moved to San Francisco where Ross met his first wife Evelyn Henry. Ross went to college at University of California Berkeley and graduated in 1949 with a business degree. He was a member of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Fraternity. While at Berkley he lettered all 4 years on the rifle team. Ross went on to become a Certified Public Accountant and went into business with his father as Wright and Wright Accounting Service in Bakersfield during the early 1950s. After his father retired, Ross became a partner with in a CPA firm in Bakersfield, that eventually merged with Grant Thornton. Ross was partner-in-charge for many years and remained a consultant for several years after he retired. In addition to being a CPA, Ross was a businessman who started many ventures with other investors. He invested in the computer industry back when they were 10 feet tall. Needless to say, that investment didn’t last very long! Ross was one of the founding directors of San Joaquin Bank in Bakersfield, CA. Ross was a 75 year active member of Rotary and was President of the North Bakersfield chapter from 1962 to 1965. He was also a member of the AICPA and California Society of CPAs throughout his career. Ross was a member of the Congregational Church and served as Moderator in the 1960’s. In 1971, after 25 years of marriage, Evelyn passed away. Ross was lucky enough to find true love again with Donna Beecroft and they married in 1972. Ross was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, motorcycling, jeeping, scouting Indian ruins, rock hunting, and jewelry making. After retirement in 1987, Ross and Donna traveled extensively for 10 years in their motorhome before dividing their time each year between California, Arizona, and Colorado. Ross and Donna enjoyed 35 years of adventures with their many friends from each walk of their lives from retirement. Ross was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Grace, his brother Frank, his lifelong friend George Young, and his first wife Evelyn. Ross is survived by his wife Donna of 46 years; his daughter Alicia and husband Richard Harp of Garden City, KS; step daughter Donna Sue and husband Marc Weisman of Davis, CA; grandchildren Ryan Harp and wife Kimberly, Russell Harp, Reed Harp, William Weisman, Benjamin Weisman. In memory of Ross, donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the Cortez Cultural Center in care of Ertel Funeral Home of Cortez, Colorado. There will be a graveside, celebration of Ross’ life on August 6th at 10:00am at Goodman Point. A reception will follow at the Wright Residence, 2613 Fairway Drive in Cortez.