David “Al” Alan Wright

1943 – 2020

David “Al” Alan Wright 76, of Milwaukie, Oregon,  passed away peacefully on January 3, 2020. He was born June 20, 1943 in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia to George and Audrey Wright.

As a boy he learned the value of hard work, ran track, played basketball and sang in choir where he learned a lifelong love of singing. He was three when he sang his first solo. He graduated from McLoughlin Union High in Milton Freewater, Oregon in 1961. He then went on to study at Northwest Nazarene College where he met his beloved wife and best friend, Diane, to whom he was married for 56 years.

He enlisted in the army and served in Vietnam as a chaplain’s assistant.

He was a proud father of five, a doting grandfather to nine and a cherished great grandfather to one.

He had many jobs through the years, always finding ways to provide for his family, even in hard times. He worked in sales, at the City of Portland and finally at Kaiser Permanente where he was a shop steward for his local union. He retired from Kaiser in 2005.

He traveled extensively with Diane, doing mission work, helping to literally and figuratively build and spread God’s word. They worked in Ecuador, Australia, Peru and more, but of all the places they traveled they returned to Ecuador the most, spending up to six months at a time in their “second home”.

He loved working with wood, creating things for the home and gifts for loved ones. In these last many years when he was unable to travel, he kept himself very busy volunteering at Gleaners. More than anything he lived to serve others, lending a helping hand whenever needed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Audrey Wright, his brother, Wesley Wright, and his sister, Anita Wharton. He leaves behind his wife, Diane Wright, brother, Ean Wright, sister, Vivian Cummings, sons Mark Wright (Claire), Kevin Wright (Danelle), Del Wright (Kristen), daughters, Beverly Zeller (Ernest), Monica Southworth (Kirk) nine grandchildren and one great grandchild

Celebration of life Memorial to be held on Saturday, January 25th at Gladstone Church of the Nazarene 4180 S. E. Jennings Gladstone, Oregon 97267 at 1:00pm – Food after the service for those wanting to stay and remember. CLICK HERE for Directions

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Gladstone Nazarene church and marked for Ecuador Missions, which Al loved.