Obituary of Lester Kenneth Wright, Sr.

Lester Kenneth Wright, Sr., 81, of Doniphan, Missouri, died unexpectedly Thursday, September 3, 2009, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Mr. Wright, son of the late Denver M. and Mellie Mae (Hardigree) Wright, was born July 13, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1947, Mr. Wright and his immediate family moved from St. Louis to Doniphan where Mr. Wright was Plant Manager for Wright Leather Co., a manufacturer of leather advertising specialties. In the early 1950's, Mr. Wright and some of his brothers formed Vitronic, Inc. Under Mr. Wright's leadership, the Doniphan plant grew and expanded to be a prominent player in the vinyl advertising specialty market. The plant employed over 400 employees following the addition of the Ad Trend hard plastic line and the K-Studio wearable line. Lester was involved in numerous community projects, including the National Canoe Race, Current River Country Club expansion, DNAP, Heritage Park development, Doniphan Chamber of Commerce, Ripley County Industrial Development Committee, creation of the Current River Heritage Museum, tie raft floats and Timberfest. Mr. Wright attended the First Christian Church. He was also a cattle farmer, pro bull riding enthusiast, avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was married to Lenore Zuroweste on March 15, 1947, in St. Louis. She preceded him in death December 31, 1998. He married Eva Jean Murray in Doniphan on May 26, 2001, and she survives. Also surviving are one son, Bill R. Wright and his wife, Jeni, of Doniphan; one daughter, Leslen W. Sanders, and her husband, Jeff, of Sunset Hills, Missouri; five grandchildren, Amanda McAfee (Mike), Ashley Baker (Marcus), Regan Horn (Jonathan), Ross Sanders and Jordan Sanders; two great-grandchildren, Aidan McAfee and Finley Baker; and one sister, Delores Jaenicke, all of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Wright was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Lenore, one son, Lester K. Wright, Jr., two sisters, Helen Wright and Evelyn Harper, and five brothers, Denver Wright, Jr., Charles Wright, Edward Wright, Jack Wright and Larry Wright. Visitation will be Saturday evening, September 5, 2009, from 4 - 7 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will take place Sunday afternoon, September 6, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with Brother John Harwell officiating. Burial will follow in the Doniphan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ripley County Fair Board, c/o Sam Griffin, 114 Washington St., Doniphan, Missouri 63935.