WRIGHT Charles Parker Wright (1933-2019) Charles Parker Wright died peacefully on August 14, 2019, at Cape Cod, his favorite family vacation place of 56 years, surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren. He'd had Alzheimer's for three years and a throat tumor known for just a month. God was so very kind in Chuck's peaceful journey to heaven under hospice care for only three weeks. He was a faithful, grateful witness of Christ's love to every nurse, doctor and attendant. The fourth of six children born to Maynard and Ruth Wright, Chuck grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He was enrolled in Forestry School at The University of Pittsburgh when he committed his life to Jesus Christ, an event that changed everything, but his love for the woods, hunting and fishing, stayed with him. He graduated from The King's College. He attended Dallas Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Seminary and completed a Doctorate from Columbia Seminary. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Hanyang University in Korea. At his first church in Churchville, Maryland, Chuck began hosting Allied Military Officers from nearby Aberdeen Ordnance School in the homes of church families. Each guest received Scriptures in his own language. The outreach ministry continued at his next church in Paradise, Pennsylvania, at Bethany Collegiate Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania, expanding to other churches and military bases across America. Chuck received the Department of the Army's highest Civilian Service Award for this work, which gave a positive impression of America to thousands of officers from allied country around the world. In Chuck's years as a pastor, the idea of a few following Jesus together, outside church walls, became central to his ministry. He gathered town leaders at the local bank; women met in homes; laborers met at the sewing factory; elementary teachers met after school; and a Senate-Cabinet group started in the Pennsylvania Senate. All of these weekly gatherings were centered around the person of Jesus. Chuck's focus was the Bible as he faithfully prepared Christ-centered sermons. A favorite verse was, "God has exalted above all things, His Name and His Word!" (Psalm 138:2) Dr. Wright was called to lead North Avenue Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta, in 1976. He taught the people, which including hundreds of internationals, that they were the ministry, even as they lived out their lives in business, college, medicine, education, caring for the poor and following Jesus in every part of the city. The thesis of his doctorate examined the question, "How to reach the business mind with preaching?" As he pastored churches, the beginning of a world-wide ministry began. Chuck first attended The National Prayer Breakfast in 1963 and continued through last February. The Wrights hosted thousands of Parliament Members in their home throughout the years, guests from Scotland, South Africa, Cameroon, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Faroe Islands, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and visited all of their countries in turn. (Chuck and Margie travelled to Kyrgyzstan seven times!) The goal was to encourage these friends to meet around Jesus for their countries, to be a leadership led by God. Chuck and his family moved to McLean, Virginia, in 1985. As a Parish Associate at National Presbyterian, Chuck devoted all of his time to the fellowship work in Washington and around the world. Six years ago they moved to Knollwood, a Military Retirement Community in Washington. Chuck Wright is author of a great book FINDING GOD BENEATH THE ASHES, A National and Personal Search - Trafford Publishing. Chuck is survived by Margie Sweet Wright, his wife of 62 years, and by his daughter, Karen and husband, Charles Marsh of Charlottesville, Virginia, son, Dan and wife, GuoWei of Oakton, Virginia, daughter, Beth Anne and husband, Billy Melvin of Gloucester, Massachusetts, son, Keith and wife Heidi of Washington, DC., and son, Christian and wife Sarah of Nairobi, Kenya. Chuck and Margie have 17 grandchildren, one of whom he joins in heaven. Memorial donations may be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Bill Melvin (https://my.fca.org/billmelvin) and/or to Theological Horizons (www.theologicalhorizons.org/giving). Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial of Worship Celebrating the Life of Charles Parker Wright at National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, on Thursday, September 5 at 1 p.m.Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial of Worship Celebrating the Life of Charles Parker Wright at National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, on Thursday, September 5 at 1 p.m.

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Published by The Washington Post on Aug. 31, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for CHARLES WRIGHT

5 Entries

Connie Nunes

February 28, 2022

May every memory of this Man of God be filled with Blessings and Comfort for all that his life has touched and continues to touch.

Privileged to have called him Pastor in person, still do when I speak or think of him. An honor.

Carol & Neale Hightower

September 6, 2019

We cherish the time we had Chuck in Atlanta, Georgai as our dear pastor for North Avenue Presbyterian. He has been gone a long time now, but we have followed Chuck and Margie in their world wide ministry with internationals spreading the love of Jesus wherever they go,. He will be greatly missed as a venerable and godly totally lovely servant of Christ. I am sure he was welcomed with the "Well done, good and gracious servant of the Lord.". Neale and I send our deepest condolences to Margie and the children as you adjust to the new normal without Chuck on earth. Blessings and Prayers for heart felt peace!

Susan and Mike Bennett

September 6, 2019

In the late 1970's I was a student at Agnes Scott College and my husband was at Georgia Tech. We met in the college Sunday school class at North Avenue Presbyerian. When we decided to marry, we asked Rev. Wright to marry us as we wanted our pastor to do it, not my home pastor. He graciously agreed and drove to Charlotte, N.C. to perform the ceremony in my home church. That was 39 years ago today.

My husband and I then joined a married couples Bible study. One evening Rev. Wright joined us for a covered dish in the home of one of the couples. Afterwards, I was short a teaspoon. Came to find out later that Rev. Wright had put it in his suit pocket. When he found it, he assumed it belonged to the church and threw it in with the hundreds of spoons in the church kitchen. I imagine North Avenue still has a piece of my stainlass as I never bothered to go looking for it!

We have fond memories of Rev. Wright. We pray that our loving Father will comfort you in your grief as Rev. Wright awaits us all in glory!

Sam and Lynn Owen

September 1, 2019

It was a privilege to know Chuck and always a delight to be with him as his face wore kindness and his smile brought joy. What a legacy he left for his family - so much to admire about his life and ministry.
To Margie - to the children - to the grandchildren - we send our deepest condolences for this grief and loss. We all rejoice that there's no more illness for him but what a sorrow his passing leaves in all our lives.
Much love - Sam and Lynn

N. S.

August 31, 2019

My deepest sympathy to the family of Charles Wright. May you be comforted in knowing that our Heavenly Father cares for you. He will give you strength and courage to cope with your grief. Psalm 94:17-19

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