Wright, Freeman H., 93, April 26, 2015. Calling hours will be at the Caribou United Baptist Church May 1 from 6-9 p.m., where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on May 2. Arrangements by Mockler Funeral Home, Caribou.
Caribou – Freeman H. Wright, died April 26, 2015, at the Caribou Maine Veterans’ Home after battling prostate cancer. He was born March 16, 1922, in Connor, the first son of the late Charles and Lillian (Sparks) Wright Jr.
Freeman graduated from Caribou High School Class of 1940. He married his high school sweetheart Leona Hebert on December 22, 1941, in Caribou. He started out working for his Uncle Harry Wright in his machine shop in Caribou. Then he went on to work in the Todd Bath Shipyard before being drafted in 1942. Mr. Wright served with the 1st BTN HQ 398 Inf. Reg. 100th Army Infantry Division from Dec. 15, 1942, through Dec 10, 1945, as a radio operator serving in Germany, and France. He served in the Battle of the Bulge. One of his greatest honors was being called up to fly with other WW II Veterans on the Honor Flight New England in June 2014 to Washington, DC, to the WW II Memorial Wall.
After the war, he returned home to Portland and moved his family back to Caribou. He worked for Northern Sales and Service from 1950-1975 in the body shop. In 1954 he suffered a traumatic injury resulting in the loss of his leg. After rehabilitating in Togus VA for months he returned to the garage as their body shop foreman. In 1975 the new Caribou Vocational Center was built and he went on to become their first auto body instructor working for them until he retired in 1987. During this time he took up a hobby of writing the memorials for those that died in his church. These writings have become a part of the Caribou Public Library and he was listed as a historian of collecting and writing Caribou’s history. This tribute spanned for over 25 years.
He was a faithful member of the Caribou United Baptist Church since 1955, and baptized in 1956. He was honored as a lifetime honorary deacon in 2003. In his early years he and Leona ran
the Christian Servicemen’s Center for our local military. Freeman was a true servant to others always by lending a hand even into his 90s. Freeman built the metal cross with his hands that hangs behind the church’s altar today.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter and there was very little that could keep him from spending a day in the woods or on the water.
Mr. Wright was predeceased by his wife of 56 years Estelle Leona Wright on March 9, 1998, an infant son in 1946, a brother Vernon Wright, sisters Violet Norsworthy, Julia Tracy, Rosella Hewitt, Pearl Wright; daughter-in-law Eva Wright, and best friend Marge Gagnon.
He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law; Gloria and Duane Mishler of Stillwater, NY, Cindy and Don Blanchette of Wood-land, and Lynn and Roger Haines of Caribou; one son, Freeman (Sonny) Wright Jr. of Tucson, AZ, and friend Ellen Black of Fredericton, NB. One brother, Ervin Wright of Cheshire, CT, and a sister-in-law Gloria Hebert of Caribou. Eleven grandchildren: Stephen, Mark, and Cindy Mishler, Carol Sue (Mishler) Foster, Michael and David Mishler, Kristopher and Matthew Blanchette, Melissa (Haines) Scott, Samantha (Haines) Nichols, and Audrey Spencer. Twelve great-grandchildren: Erin and Zachary Foster, Rachael (Mishler) Helwig, Judith (Mishler) Turner, Josiah Mishler, Logan, Carter and Sabine Blanchette, Leah, Cole, and Jason Spencer and Graham Nichols. Six great-great grandchildren: William ,Rebecca, Hannah, and Andrew Helwig, Jeremiah, and Jonathan Turner; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be at the Caribou United Baptist Church Friday, May 1 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. where funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2015, with Pastor Troy Heald and Rev. Ron Rosser officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Donations in Freeman’s memory are encouraged to be given to the Caribou United Baptist Church Freeman & Estelle Wright Memorial Fund at 74 High Street Caribou, Maine 04736, or to the Honor Flight New England PO Box 16287 Hooksett, NH 03106 to allow other WW II Veterans to be able to visit the WW II Memorial Wall. The family would like to thank the Gagnon family, Erdine, Lumina, Lela, Cheryl, Danny, and Brent for sharing their family with our father as his second family. Also, Gloria Williams, his caregiver from Senior Domestics, that allowed our father to be able to stay home this last year; Dr. Flynn, Dr. Piper, Dr. Espinosa, Cary Medical Center, the Oncology Clinic, and the Maine Veterans Home for the wonderful care given to our father. And thank you to his fishing buddy Carl Sjoberg for your faithfulness in caring for your dear friend through his illness this year. Arrangements by the Mockler Funeral Home 24 Reservoir Street Caribou ME 04736. www.mocklerfuneralhome
.com
