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In memory of
Edward "Ted" Wesley Wright
March 11, 1930 - November 13, 2020
Mar 11, 1930 - Nov 13, 2020
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Ted's obituary
Ted was born March 11, 1930, the only child of Lael Anthony and Bert Wright in Pocatello, Idaho. Ted was named after his paternal grandfather Edward “Ted” Wright. His parents divorced when he was four and Ted went to live with his paternal grandparents for a time but was also doted on by his maternal grandmother. As Ted grew up, he lived mostly with his father and stepmother and grew up close to his many cousins.
Ted and had a beautiful singing voice, and was an avid golfer, skier, fisherman and photographer for most of his life. He attended Idaho State University and later transferred to the University of Idaho, where he received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in mathematics.
In 1950, he met his future wife, Bonnie Jean Quinn, when she was still in high school, on a double date with his roommate. They met again in 1952 at the University and were married on January 30, 1953. Their first child, Bert, was born in Spokane, Washington in 1953. The family moved to Boise where Ted got a job with the Idaho Highway Department as a statistician and ended up programming computers. Their daughter, Mary, was born there in 1955. In 1960, they packed up and moved to California; Ted worked at Northrup on nuclear submarines for a time and then spent the next 36 years at IBM, teaching new hires and developing training programs.
While living in Southern California (across the street from Disneyland for a while) the family enjoyed the beach and hiking, even climbing Mt. Whitney as a family. Loving the outdoors so much, they didn’t hesitate when Ted was offered a job at the IBM plant in Boulder, Colorado, where the kids ended up spending their teenage years. There the whole family fished and camped in the summer and skied in the winter.
Once the kids went off to college, Bonnie and Ted relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, still with IBM. After a short stint at another IBM plant in Irving, Texas, Ted semi-retired and moved to Winslow, Arizona to teach computer science at Northland Pioneer College. In 1987, they fully retired and became Snowbirds, spending winters in Mesa, and summers golfing and fishing in Ashton, Idaho and later Thompson Falls, Montana. For many years in retirement, Ted continued teaching classes and helping people with their computers. He was also active in the Masonic Lodge, and for many years published their statewide newsletter. For the last several years, until he became ill, Ted woke up every morning at 4:15 am to swim laps with his good friend and neighbor Roy.
Ted is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 67 years, his son Bert, and daughter-in-law Linda, daughter Mary, son-in-law Gene Haagenson, four grandchildren: Erin Haagenson Stout (Matt), Chris Haagenson, Matt Haagenson (Helena Markusson), and KJ Lechtenburg (Jason), seven great-grandchildren: Olivia Haagenson, Mira and Luisa Markusson-Haagenson, Zebediah and Thaddeus Lechtenberg, and Ewan and Gavin Stout. Due to COVID, no immediate memorial is planned, but the family hopes to hold one when it is safe to do so.
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Created with love by
Erin Haagenson (Ted's granddaughter).
