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LORIS | Fulton Otto Wright, 88, husband of Estelle Smith Wright, passed away Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Loris Community Hospital following an illness. Fulton Otto Wright was born March 8, 1919 in Tabor City, North Carolina, a son of the late Eugene Otto Wright and the late Cameola Smith Wright. A gentleman and a patriot, Mr. Wright was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Mr. Wright retired from the U.S. Navy after serving from 1941 until 1962. A combat veteran, he served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre, served in the Navy as a Chief Steward and was a staff member of the Frederick Military Academy. Throughout his career in the military, he received many honors and commendations, including American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal with Three Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Good Conduct Medal with Three Stars and the National Defense Medal. Mr. Wright retired as a Commissaryman First Class and as a retiree he was honored by the Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., receiving a bronze replica of the Lone Sailor Statue, for his tireless dedication and work recruiting Navy veterans to participate in the Navy Memorial Log. Through a wide circle of friends, Mr. Wright brought in 34 “recruits” during the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation’s Recruit-a-Shipmate competition. After receiving the award, Mr. Wright continued his effort to sign up other Navy veterans and recruited an additional 62 veterans to the Log. Mr. Wright was a life member of the Moose Lodge in Portsmouth, Va., a member of American Legion Post #41 in Loris and the VFW post in Tabor City, N.C. He was a strong believer in higher education and during his Navy career he traveled around the world seven times. Mr. Wright loved feeding his birds, and spent his free time visiting residents of Loris Extended Care Center and Loris Community Hospital. He was predeceased by one brother, Morrison Wright. Mr. Wright is survived by his wife, Estelle Smith Wright of the home; two children, Linda Stinson and her husband, Steve, of Gadsden, Alabama and Fulton Buck Wright and his wife, Robin, of Key West, Florida; stepdaughter, Nancy Freeman of Gadsden, Alabama; sister, Lucille Winstead of Elm City, N.C.; brother, Willard Wright of Tabor City, N.C.; six grandchildren, Michael Robinson and his wife, Roxanne, Lauren McVeigh and her husband, Dale, Ashleigh Davis and her husband, Jeremy, Lindsay Elkins and her husband, David, Lisa Hibbs, and Holly Clem and her husband, Neal; and 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 17, 2008, from Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Ghent officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Twin City Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2008, at Ward Funeral Home in Loris. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 5330 Broad St., Loris, SC 29569 or to the charity of one’s choice. Ward Funeral Home of Loris, (843) 756-9273, is serving the Wright family.

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Fulton O. Wright

March 8, 1919 - February 14, 2008