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Obituary

Obituary of Enda Paula (Barr) Wright https://betzlerlifestory.com/obituaries/edna-wright.5585 Leading by example, Edna B. Wright taught all the people in her life to make the most of every moment. Though she did not pursue her teaching career, the lessons of love, generosity and kindness she shared with her family and friends are ones they will never forget. Edna treasured every moment, especially those she spent in the company of her family and friends. Edna had seen tremendous changes in the country and the world. Many diseases had been eradicated, cross country travel that took days now took hours and today’s technology wasn’t even fiction in 1900. She remembered when there were no driver’s licenses or income taxes and streetlights were lit by hand. Edna’s memories made her a living textbook for the 20th century. It was into this new century that Henry and Olga (Schmidt) Barr of Chicago, Illinois, welcomed the birth of their first child, daughter Edna Paula, on June 23, 1900. She was later joined by her brother, Arnold, who was born before the radio even existed. Edna grew up in the bustling city of Chicago, where her father earned a living as a translator and research asssistant for a law office in the area. When Edna was 9, Henry moved his family from the big city to the quietness and ease of country living on a farm in Saugatuck, Michigan. In these days, after the work day was done, the entire town closed down, except for the saloons and churches, and everyone went home to their families. While her father continued to commute to and from Chicago, Edna’s mother stayed home and took care of the needs of her family. Farm life afforded her many kinds of pets, including horses, a pet cow and her favorites were the family dogs they had over the years. Especially the three Red Dachshund puppies that her parents brought home from Hartz Mountain in Germany. A dedicated student, Edna attended the area schools and graduated from Saugatuck High School in 1918. Edna chose to pursue college after graduation, attending Western Teaching College (now know as Western Michigan University), where she earned her teaching certificate in physical education, graduating with the class of 1920. In the time of Edna’s young adulthood, the primary mode of transportation was still horse and buggy, though she often told the story of how she learned to drive in their first car, an old Ford named Lizzy. As fate would have it, Edna was standing on her front porch one day when a young man named William P. Wright, who worked on a farm near by, passed by in his horse and buggy taking a load of apples to town. She immediately caught his eye and he slowed down to throw her an apple, which sparked a friendship that would eventually turn to true love. William fostered a wonderful relationship with the entire Barr family and later even commuted to college with Edna’s brother. Her parents came to know William very well and on the day he asked them for their permission to marry Edna, they did not hesitate to give them their blessing. On a very memorable day in 1927, Edna and William were married on the Barr property "Arcadia" in Saugatuck. After saying I do, the newlyweds went to Kentucky on their honeymoon to visit the Mammoth Caves. Since William (now a practicing attorney) was working in Chicago and in 1929 became an Assistant States Attorney in Cook County, the couple began married life together living in Chicago. It wasn’t long before they welcomed the birth of their first child, daughter Helen, in 1931. Their second, son William, joined the family in 1935. The decade of the 1930s was a difficult one for the entire country and the economic devastation of the Great Depression left no one unaffected, including the Wrights. In 1933, after losing all their money, the family packed up and headed for the family farm in Saugatuck. On their journey home, they stopped in Paw Paw, Michigan to get gas and something about the area struck William. He asked the attendant how many attorneys were in Paw Paw, to which he answered, “too damn many.” William got back in the car and told Edna this is where they were staying. While William started his own law firm and became well respected in the community, Edna was a traditional at home mom, who lovingly took care of the needs of her family. It wasn’t until the children were older that she began to work outside the home. In 1949, William was elected as the Van Buren County Probate and Juvenile Judge, at which time he hired Edna as the Probate Registrar. This husband and wife duo worked side by side for 21 years dedicatedly serving their community. After retiring, Edna used to joke with her family that since her retirement allowance was so small, she was going to live as long as possible to get her money’s worth. And that she did! Edna and William had a wonderful relationship. Throughout their married life, they absolutely loved to travel in the U.S. and abroad and after retiring, they began to travel even more extensively. Their journeys took them to The Orient, France, Germany, England, Switzerland, Turkey, all of South America and Hawaii, before it was even a part of the United States. They had stayed in majestic castles and went on luxurious cruises, but it didn’t matter where on earth they were, as long as they were together. Edna pursued everything she did with vigor and enthusiasm, including her hobbies. At the age of 101, she and her son Buzz drove to Lakeland, Florida for vacation and got to spend a day at the Sun & Fun Air Show. When one of Buzz’s friends, Dr. Bill Harrison, found out that Edna just celebrated her birthday, he took her up in a B25 Bomber called the “Old Glory” to soar among the clouds. Amazingly, a mere 98 years earlier, when she was 3, the Wright Brothers flew their first plane. Always active, Edna remained involved in her community for more than 70 years as a resident of Paw Paw. Some of which included the American Legion Auxiliary, Order of Eastern Star (a member since 1918 & the 1998 Chapter Sweetheart), White Shrine, Mother’s Club, Paw Paw Coterie (where she was the longest active standing member), Lakeview Auxiliary, Girl Scouts and Red Cross and cancer drives. At the young age of 100, Edna was still selling poppies for the American Legion Auxiliary. Just to name a FEW! To Edna, age was just a number, and she did not let it slow her down. A perfect example of this was when Edna, Buzz and her two grandsons were out for the day and came upon a big amusement like slide that you go down on a burlap sack. Since Buzz was afraid of heights, he refused to take his sons down the slide, but Edna, then 70, grabbed the boys and headed for the top. Once at the bottom, Buzz couldn’t help but tease his mom by yelling, “can’t you act your age”, to which she smiled and headed to the top with the boys for another ride. The most valuable lesson Edna taught her children was to enjoy every moment of every day and not take anything for granted – a lesson she truly lived every day of her 104 years on earth. In her quiet moments, Edna liked listening to Big Band music and Ted Lewis, her favorite performer who sang to them on their honeymoon. As a dog lover, she enjoyed the companionship of her beloved Clumber dog named Sam. Her home was always well organized (in her own way) and everything had its place – and she didn’t like her things messed with. Strong and independent, Edna’s mind was sharp as a tack even in the end. In fact, she and Buzz discussed current events as of a few days ago. For Edna, everything had its proper place. Her place in life was with her family, the one thing that filled her 104 years with love and joy. Throughout all her life, Edna always had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. She never dwelt on the negative. It is the way her family will always remember her. Edna B. Wright died on Saturday, February 5, 2005, at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton. She was preceded in death by her husband, William P. Wright; and a brother, Arnold Barr. Surviving are her children: William “Buzz” Wright of Paw Paw and Helen Predmore of Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren: Lori (Daniel) Galvin of Phoenix, AZ, Russell Predmore of Prescott, AZ, William (Kimberly) Wright and John Wright of Las Vegas; and several nieces and nephews. Learn more about Edna, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Wednesday, February 9, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes, M-40 South of I-94 Paw Paw, 657-3870, where an Order of Eastern Star Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. that evening. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, February 10, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment Riverside Cemetery in Saugatuck. Please visit Edna’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either the Order of Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary or Van Buren Youth Camp.