REV. JOSEPH D. WRIGHT (Pastor Joe) was born May 9, 1930 in Kingswood, Kentucky. He grew up in Grants Pass, OR. He answered God's call on his life into full time ministry while still in high school. He graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in 1952 and went to Nazarene Theological Seminary. He was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene in May of 1954 and married Estelle G. Schroeder of Salem, OR in August of the same year. After graduating from Seminary in 1955 they moved to Wahiawa, HI and built the Wahiawa Church of the Nazarene. That building still exists today. From there he pastored in Eugene, OR, worked for Northwest Nazarene University, pastored Boulder, CO First Church of the Nazarene, Denver, CO Southside Church, Albuquerque, NM First Church and finished his full time ministry at Honolulu, HI First Church of the Nazarene in 1995. Estelle went to heaven 1999 and in 2004 Joe married Gwendolyn McGuire of Kansas. He remained in part time ministry by pulpit filling and being on staff as the hospital visitation pastor until 2012 when his health stopped him from doing so. Pastor Joe graduated to heaven on May 24, 2015 (Pentecost Sunday) at the age of 85 in Shawnee, Kansas. He is survived by Gwen Wright of Shawnee ,Kansas. Sons Ren Wright of Oklahoma City and Lan Wright of Meridian, Idaho. Daughter, Sauni Wickstrom of Kaneohe, Hawaii. Grand- daughter Shelise Holliday of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Great Grandson Zane Holliday of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Brothers Dan and Paul Wright of Roseville, California. Hanai Daughters Sharon VanBelle of Santee, California and Terese Manley of Golden, Colorado.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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