Ronald E. Wright, Jasper, MO, age 85, passed away the morning of Tuesday, May 23, 2023 with his family at his side. Ronald “Ronnie” was born September 11, 1937, in rural Jasper County to Ellis and Lela (Campbell) Wright. Ronnie began his education in Alba, then went to Pleasant Valley and graduated from Carthage High School in 1955.
Ronnie married his wife, Evelyn Vacca, the love of his life for 66 years, on January 4, 1957. They were blessed with five children: Tony, Russell, Kay, David, and Preston.
Following graduation, he went to work for MFA and delivered feed to most of the Southwest Missouri area until 1963 when he began a long career with Leggett and Platt, Inc. in Carthage, Missouri. He started at Branch One, but over the years worked in many of the facilities in Carthage, as well as the plant in Ennis, TX, and traveled to many of the other plants installing equipment for the sleeper sofa division. Ronnie “retired” in 2000 from Leggett and Platt where he was working in Research and Development. He continued to work a couple more years part time imparting his many years of knowledge to the younger ones.
Ron also spent many years with the Jasper Fire Department, both City and Rural, and was a longtime Chief of both departments. He truly enjoyed his time as a fireman. He also served two terms on the Jasper R-IV School District Board of Education. Mt. Moriah Methodist Church was Ron’s church home, where he had been involved with many aspects of the church for more than 50 years. He took pride in his garden and yard which were always well maintained and plentiful. Even though he had to downsize his garden in the last few years, he still kept one and enjoyed being out in it as often as he could. He was a very handy person and loved to work in his shop making whatever someone requested, or he saw a picture of and needed to make. In the past few years, he had taken up carving and was very talented at it, making the grandkids provide him with drawings of different things for him to carve.
Ron is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Tony (Janice) of Carthage, Russell (Wendy) of Jasper, David (Kelly) of Visalia, California, and Preston (Vicki) of Diamond and daughter Kay of Monett, Missouri. Grandchildren Evan (Abby), Carly (Logan), Annie, Jacob (Stephanie), Jennifer, Kathryn, Allyson, Rilynne and Robyn, Lucy (Jordan), Brantley (Kaitlyn), Jamison, Parker. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren and one more on the way, as well as one sister Margaret Evans, sisters in-law Donna Chandler, Carolyn Hamilton and Patricia Michaels, and host of nephews and nieces.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, stepfather Paul Stanley, mother and father in-law Carrol and Velma Vacca, as well as many brother and sister in-laws.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Ulmer Funeral Home in Carthage, MO. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 29, 2023, at Ulmer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Hackney Cemetery, northeast of Carthage, MO.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Mt. Moriah Church Building Fund or the Carthage Humane Society in care of Ulmer Funeral Home.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.
