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In Memory of
James Harold
Wright
Wright
1924 - 2018
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McKenzie Funeral Services
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Barbara and Pat.
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Bill Turnbull
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Obituary for James Harold Wright
It is with deep sadness, that we announce the passing of James Harold (Chick) Wright peacefully on April 14th 2018, aged 94 years. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Martha, their four children; Jim (Louise), Bob (Tracy), Patricia (Chris), and Ken (Colleen), six grandchildren; Amy, Heather (David), Nathan (Lynsey), Meredith, James and Matthew and one great grandson, JJ (John-James).
Born on January 10th 1924, he was lovingly raised by his parents, Jim and Nell Wright in Langley, B.C. After graduating from Langley High school, his first job was at the Boeing Airplane Factory at the foot of Denman Street in Vancouver. In 1942, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served overseas in England, France and Germany as an Aircraft Electrician (L.A.C.- Leading Air Craftsman) with the 403rd “Stock and Strike” Squadron that landed on Juno Beach on June 18, 1944.
After the war, Jim returned to Langley where he met his wife-to-be, Martha Brown. Before their wedding in February 1947, Jim briefly did some gold mining in Lillooet and then was employed by the BC Motor Transportation (a subsidiary of BC Electric). Initially he was hired as an electrician, where he worked on and was involved in the purchase of some of the Brill Trolley Buses for Vancouver. Early in his career, Jim attended Vocational Night School covering a wide variety of subjects which included Electric Propulsion Systems and Electronics. In 1948, Jim began his long association with Oakridge Transit Centre where he was the Trolley Coach and Shop Foreman and later the Superintendent of Oakridge and Sub Garages. At the time of his retirement in 1981 he was the Manager of the Lower Mainland Maintenance Division, including the Seabus. Jim served on a number of Trade organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Engineering Committee of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. At the time of his retirement, The American Transit Union (ATU) accurately described Jim as “fair, honest and sincere”.
Jim and Martha first lived on East 6th Avenue in Vancouver, moving to Prince Albert St. in 1950 and then moving to the North Shore in 1962 where they built their family home on Coleman St. in Lynn Valley. Jim loved flying and in 1958 he obtained his Private Pilot’s licence and then in 1959 his Float Plane Endorsement. For many years he enjoyed flying over the Fraser Valley and the North Shore mountains.
In later years, Jim enjoyed travelling, wood working, boating, and fishing. He was well known in the neighbourhood for clearing the snow from the sidewalks with his yellow Sears tractor, which has now been lovingly restored by his grandson Nathan. He was great at repairing most everything. Indeed, if Jim couldn’t fix it, you really knew it was unrepairable! One of his greatest joys of retirement was the time it gave him to spend with his children and grandchildren. He was a supportive, loving, caring, playful Grandfather and will be tremendously missed.
A very special thank you to the staff at Cedarview Lodge, especially to the Special Care Unit on Pine Forest and the team of Palliative Care Volunteers. Memorial service to be held at St Timothy’s Anglican Church (at Sutherland Church) 630 East 19th Street, North Vancouver at 1.30 pm on Saturday April 21, 2018, Rev. Ken Bell officiating. Reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of BC or a charity of your choice. For the book of condolence, please go to www.mckenziefuneralservice.com.
Born on January 10th 1924, he was lovingly raised by his parents, Jim and Nell Wright in Langley, B.C. After graduating from Langley High school, his first job was at the Boeing Airplane Factory at the foot of Denman Street in Vancouver. In 1942, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served overseas in England, France and Germany as an Aircraft Electrician (L.A.C.- Leading Air Craftsman) with the 403rd “Stock and Strike” Squadron that landed on Juno Beach on June 18, 1944.
After the war, Jim returned to Langley where he met his wife-to-be, Martha Brown. Before their wedding in February 1947, Jim briefly did some gold mining in Lillooet and then was employed by the BC Motor Transportation (a subsidiary of BC Electric). Initially he was hired as an electrician, where he worked on and was involved in the purchase of some of the Brill Trolley Buses for Vancouver. Early in his career, Jim attended Vocational Night School covering a wide variety of subjects which included Electric Propulsion Systems and Electronics. In 1948, Jim began his long association with Oakridge Transit Centre where he was the Trolley Coach and Shop Foreman and later the Superintendent of Oakridge and Sub Garages. At the time of his retirement in 1981 he was the Manager of the Lower Mainland Maintenance Division, including the Seabus. Jim served on a number of Trade organizations, including the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Engineering Committee of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. At the time of his retirement, The American Transit Union (ATU) accurately described Jim as “fair, honest and sincere”.
Jim and Martha first lived on East 6th Avenue in Vancouver, moving to Prince Albert St. in 1950 and then moving to the North Shore in 1962 where they built their family home on Coleman St. in Lynn Valley. Jim loved flying and in 1958 he obtained his Private Pilot’s licence and then in 1959 his Float Plane Endorsement. For many years he enjoyed flying over the Fraser Valley and the North Shore mountains.
In later years, Jim enjoyed travelling, wood working, boating, and fishing. He was well known in the neighbourhood for clearing the snow from the sidewalks with his yellow Sears tractor, which has now been lovingly restored by his grandson Nathan. He was great at repairing most everything. Indeed, if Jim couldn’t fix it, you really knew it was unrepairable! One of his greatest joys of retirement was the time it gave him to spend with his children and grandchildren. He was a supportive, loving, caring, playful Grandfather and will be tremendously missed.
A very special thank you to the staff at Cedarview Lodge, especially to the Special Care Unit on Pine Forest and the team of Palliative Care Volunteers. Memorial service to be held at St Timothy’s Anglican Church (at Sutherland Church) 630 East 19th Street, North Vancouver at 1.30 pm on Saturday April 21, 2018, Rev. Ken Bell officiating. Reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of BC or a charity of your choice. For the book of condolence, please go to www.mckenziefuneralservice.com.
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