Ralph Wright Dies; Was Hurt While Diving

Blairite, 26, Father Of Two, Succumbs to Paralysis After Injury

Injuries he received a week earlier when he collided head on with a swimmer while diving at the municipal swimming pool proved fatal Tuesday to Ralph Wright, 26, of this city.

Mr. Wright, married and the father of two small children, died at Clarkson Hospital, where he had been taken suffering from paralysis after his injury.

Funeral services are being held this afternoon at First Methodist Church, the Rev. D.D. Kennedy of first Baptist Church officiating. The Fick Funeral Home is in charge. A World War II firing squad will fire a salute at the graveside in Blair Cemetery, Mr. Wright being a former navy man.

Mr. Wright's injuries occurred the evening of Aug. 5. In diving from one of the boards into the pool, he struck Howard D. Shanahan, who was swimming in the pool, head on.

Wright had been employed at Petersen & Lytle as a welder.

Ralph LeRoy Wright was born in Blair Nov. 22, 1920, the son of Mrs. And Mrs. Cullen Wright. He was a graduate of Blair High School. During the war he served in the navy for two years and four months—all but three months of this period on duty in the South Pacific theater.

He and Norma Grace Rowe were married June 2, 1942.

Surviving are his wife, Norma; two daughters, Cheryl Grace, age 4 ½ years, and Pamela Ann, age four months; his parents and one brother, Lyle Wright.

Mr. Wright was a member of Washington County Post 1251, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

#2-14 Aug., 1947 - The Enterprise - WWII Veteran

RALPH WRIGHT SUCCUMBS TO SWIM INJURIES

Swimming Injury Takes Life Of Highly Respected Young Man

BREAKS BACK WHILE DIVING

The entire community of Blair was grieved when the report from the Clarkson Hospital of Omaha was to the effect that Ralph Wright had died at 7 a.m. Aug. 12th. The cause of his death was an accident which occurred Tuesday evening of last week.

Ralph enjoyed swimming and had gone to the pool to enjoy the evening. On making a dive he collided with another swimmer. He was taken from the pool in an unconscious condition and was taken to the Blair Hospital and later to the Clarkson hospital in Omaha. Xray tests showed that he had suffered a broken back.

Ralph was a native of Blair and was educated in the Blair High School. He was at his death twenty six years of age. On June 2, 1942 he married Miss Norma Rowe. Following their marriage they moved to Portland, Oregon where they lived for eight months. Upon Ralph being called to the service the family moved back to Blair.

For two years and four months Ralph served in the Navy and of this time 2 years and one month were spent overseas. After he was discharged the family have made Blair their home. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Cheryl, age 4 years, and Pamela Ann, age 4 months.

Besides the wife and two children he leaves his parents and one brother, Lyle Wright, all of whom will be present at the funeral which will be held under the auspices of the V.FW. post of Blair from the Methodist church, and internment, with the Fick Funeral Home in charge, will be made in the Blair cemetery this Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

Thus ends the career of a man taken in the vigor of young manhood, a man who was filling all the precepts of a good citizen. It is indeed a tragic happening and leaves a family sadly broken at the time when their happiness should have been complete.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial # 9309109 Note: Ralph was buried in Block 102 Lot 7 Space 3 in the Blair Cemetery.