Dr. Gene Elliot WRIGHT

WRIGHT Dr. Gene Elliot Dr. Gene Elliot Wright, 85, of Lima, died peacefully at his home of natural causes October 3, 2010. A long-time native of Lima, Dr. Wright was born in Elida, Ohio, July 31, 1925, the younger of two sons of Dean and Atha Wright. His brother Dean Jr. preceded him in death in 1978. Gene E. "Mike" Wright graduated from Elida High School in 1943, obtained his bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1949, and graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1953. He completed his internship at Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before serving two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was stationed in White Sands, New Mexico and Verona, Italy, during that time. He was married August 18, 1951, to Jean Markle, of Huntington, Indiana. They remained husband and wife throughout the remaining 59 years of his life. Dr. Wright was well-known in the Lima community. He practiced medicine for 47 years, including 43 years as a Family Practitioner in Lima, retiring May of 2000. He is remembered fondly by his numerous former patients, many of whom he treated across several generations and for the duration of his practice lifetime. He considered his patients to be part of his extended family. He was especially close to his partner in practice of 39 years. Dr. Emmet "Duke" Murray, and Dr. Murray's extended family. During retirement he played an instrumental role in the founding of Health Partners of Western Ohio, a federally qualified community health center designed to bring health care to underserved areas. The Lima Community Health Center, the first clinic established for this purpose. was renamed in his honor this year. During Dr. Wright's time in practice he received numerous awards and also served as president of the Lima Memorial Hospital medical staff, president of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, and spend many years as Team Physician for the Lima Senior High School Athletic Programs. Dr. Wright was dedicated to education. He was involved as a clinical instructor for medical students for many years, first with the Ohio State University College of Medicine, then in a more involved role as a preceptor for Family Practice Residents at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, and as the director of L.A.H.E.C., a regional office coordinating student clinical medical education throughout the Lima area. He was honored as Family Practice Educator of the year in 1984, and received the 1992 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo. Other community involvement included memberships in Lima Rotary Club, Lima American Youth Hostels and Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was also a dedicated teacher and servant of the Lord. His love of community, strong faith, and service to fellow man, was a beacon of hope for all who knew him and the mark of leadership by example. He is survived by his wife and their five children, Cynthia Louise Hammond of Nashua, New Hampshire, Dr. Jonathan Dean Wright of Perrysburg, Ohio, Jeffery Alan Wright of Lima, Ohio, Jennifer Lynn Zupp, Columbus, Ohio and Christopher Davis Wright of Hurth-Efferen, in Germany. He was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. Visitation will be held at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home, Shawnee Chapel. Visitation will be at the Shawnee Chapel on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, from 2-4, 6-8 p.m. and then one hour prior to services on Wednesday. Funeral Service will be at Shawnee Chapel on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at 11 a.m. followed by the burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima, OH. Memorial contributions may be made to: Health Partners of West Central Ohio, 441 E. 8th St., Lima, OH 45804 or Trinity U.M.C. of Lima, OH or donor's choice.