James L. "Larry" Wright Jr.

James L. "Larry" Wright Jr., 87, of Hannibal, MO, passed away at 6:50 PM, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at his home in Hannibal, MO. A Memorial Service with full military honors by Emmette J. Shields American Legion Post #55 will be at 11:30 AM, Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Arch United Methodist Church in Hannibal, MO. Rev. Stacie Williams will officiate. Friends and Family are invited to Larry's Life Celebration at a visitation that will be from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Saturday, at the church. Arrangements for cremation are under the direction of the James O'Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal, MO. Larry was born June 2, 1937, in Kansas City, MO to James Lawrence Wright Sr. and Mary G. Riney Wright. He was married to Deloris "Dee" Lehenbauer on October 11, 1958, in Palmyra, MO. She survives. Other survivors include his son, Jimmy Wright (Julianne) of Lenexa, KS; and two grandchildren, Alex Wright and Grace Wright. Larry was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Patricia Dunker; and brother, John A. Wright. Larry proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army for 3 years, serving 18 months at Inchon, Korea. Larry started his career on the railroad in 1958 where he worked as a clerk for CB&Q Railroad. He later worked for Burlington Northern as a salesman and retired after 42 years of service. In his retirement, Larry greatly enjoyed driving the OATS bus in Abingdon, IL. Larry had a passion for stamp and coin collecting that was more than a hobby; it was a testament to his love for history and the stories behind each artifact he carefully preserved. In his younger years, Larry could often be found at the bowling alley where his competitive spirit and infectious laugh made him a favorite among his teammates. He also loved going to antique stores and hunting for Abingdon pottery, collecting over 500 pieces before giving up the hobby when storage space ran out! He and his wife Dee spent the early retirement years traveling the United States on bus tours, visiting among other places the Dakotas, New England, New Orleans, Colorado, and the Virginias. Above all, Larry was a devoted grandpa, whose eyes lit up with pride at each and every achievement shared by his grandchildren. His wisdom and gentle guidance will be deeply missed but will continue to resonate in the lives of his loved ones. Larry was a dedicated member of Evening Kiwanis for over 30 years. Larry was a member of Arch United Methodist Church in Hannibal, MO. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Wright, Alex Wright, Bill Harbourn, Tom Dunker, Virgil Lehenbauer, and Jay Miller. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Hannibal Nutrition Center or Community Loving Care Hospice. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James, please visit our floral store.