Garland Wright Obituary (1924 - 2020)

Garland Earl Wright 96, of Baker City, Oregon, passed away at his residence on July 29, 2020. At his request, no services will be held. A private inurnment in the Veteran Section at Mt. Hope Cemetery will take place soon. Gar, as he is known, was born on May 25, 1924, at home on Orchard Street to Earl and Julia Wright. Earl and Julia had moved from Ione to Baker; Earl worked in the office of the Sumpter Valley Railroad. Gar remembers his father and an uncle getting wood up at Tipton. They would bring it home and split and stack it in the basement. The only problem with that was that come spring, water would often flood that basement, and the firewood would end up getting soaked. Gar grew up in Baker, attending South Baker Elementary and was the second class to graduate from the new Baker Middle School. He attended Baker High School, graduating in 1942. Soon, Gar received a letter from "Uncle Sam." He decided rather than waiting to be called up; he would enlist in the Army. Gar spent the next three years serving all over the South Pacific, New Guinea, Philippines, and Japan. He was in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on the USS Missouri. The Missouri left the next day, but Gar and the remaining liberating forces stayed as a part of the occupying forces. One of their tasks was to clear the Bay and open it up for ship traffic. Gar was able to be home in Baker for Christmas in 1946 and joined the Navy in April of 1947. He was stationed in Astoria but then was able to sail the world. He visited many countries around the Mediterranean and the South Pacific. Gar recalls the whole ship being quarantined in Gibraltar. They were close enough to Gibraltar that he could see it was over-run with monkeys. After eight years in the Service, seeing action in WWII and Korea, he finally decided it was time to come home to Baker and settle down. Gar and his wife adopted a boy, Larry, and a girl, Ginny. The children were educated here in Baker. Gar worked for The Oregon Lumber Co. and then started working for the Post Office as a mail carrier. A Post Office clerk position came open, so he gave up the letter carrier position. He began in the old Post Office and then moved over to the new Post Office. Gar worked for the Post Office for 23 years. He also worked for the Baker Fire Department. Gar is proud of his four grandchildren scattered from Nevada to Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Todd Wright and his wife, Tiffany. Stephanie Wright and her fiance Philip. Jodi Hall and her husband Jeremy and Seth Bennett. He has numerous great-grandchildren. Gar has lived in many places, Irrigon, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, but considers Baker City home. Fishing is his passion, and the only thing that will stop him from fishing is the wind! Garland is preceded in death by his parents Earl and Julia Wright. His brother's Wendel, Guy, and Kenneth. He is also preceded in death by his son Larry Dean Wright and his great-granddaughter Kendrick Wright. He is survived by his daughter Ginny. A special thanks to Richard and Cheryl Gushman and Jeff Young for the love and support for my Dad. The family requests no flowers or cards, but if you want to donate, support your local friends and family during this country's current crisis.