William Henry Sterling Wright

WRIGHT WILLIAM HENRY STERLING WRIGHT Lt. Gen. USA (Ret.) (Age 101) On January 14, 2009 of Irvington, VA, formerly of Arlington, VA and Washington, DC. General Wright was a retired U. S. Army Horse Cavalryman, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. After his graduation in 1930, from the United States Military Academy (West Point) he was assigned to the 7th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas. During his 35 years of service in the U.S. Army, he landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, was the acting chief of the Korean Military Assistance Group when North Korea launched it's invasion of South Korea, held a variety of senior positions in the Pentagon, and commanded the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He was a member of the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team in the 1930's, Director of the US Horse Cavalry School, and won the International Military Equestrian Championship at the 1946 National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. He retired from the Army in 1965 as Chief, Office of Reserve Components, Department of the Army. In retirement General Wright lived in White Stone, VA in a house christened "Fiddlers Green". As a civic leader, his retirement was one of the busiest times of his life. He was Commodore of the local yacht club, was instrumental in the building of a new community library, was on the Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church were he served as Junior and Senior Warden, and served as a volunteer mentor with Lancaster County Public Schools. Always in demand as a speaker, he was honored as citizen of the year by Kilmarnock Rotary Club. Surviving are his wife of fifteen years, Gibson "Gibby" Dey Eppler Wright; three sons, William H. Wright of Gaithersburg, MD, Samuel T. Wright of Goochland, VA and Lt. Col. Walter G.B. Wright of Savannah, GA; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three step-sons; five step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife of fifty-five years, Matilda Basinger Wright in 1992. Memorial services will be 12 Noon, Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Grace Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock, VA with The Rev. David May officiating. Interment will be private. Memorials may be made to Grace Trust at Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1059, Kilmarnock, VA 22482 or Rappahannock Westminster Foundation, 132 Lancaster Drive, Irvington, VA 22480. Arrangements by CURRIE FUNERAL HOME, Kilmarnock, VA.