Edgar E. Wright Jr.

Edgar E. Wright, Jr. 86, Moorhead, MN, died on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 in his home on Cormorant Lake.

Ed was born on June 27, 1934, in Fargo, ND, to Edgar and Hanny (Lund) Wright. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1952 and then attended Concordia College until the end of his sophomore year.  His father’s sudden death made it necessary for him to transfer to the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science program in order to continue the family funeral business.

Edgar married Virginia Gilbery on October 9, 1954 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

He walked alongside thousands of grieving Moorhead families in his role as hometown funeral director. He was a strong advocate for Moorhead and he served the community and his church in many different roles in his younger years.

He was always up for an adventure and he loved to be at the lake, first on Middle Cormorant and later Big Cormorant. He had what must have been a great job as a young man, lifeguard at Camp Emmaus. He loved to waterski and even built a waterski jump with his cousin out in front of the cabin. He taught all five of his kids as well as most of his nieces and nephews and many, many other kids how to water ski (a feat of great patience). Sailing, motorcycles, saunas and the Fourth of July all added to the lake adventures; he loved fireworks and put on quite a show in the 60’s and 70’s. Snow skiing was another love which he also taught and enjoyed with all of his kids, including many ski trips to the Rocky Mountains.

In 1992, Ed sold the family business to his sons, Chip and Steve. He and Virginia spent several years traveling around the U.S. in a motorhome before settling in Naples, Florida for the winters. While in Florida he volunteered with the Collier County Habitat for Humanity in Naples for many years with friends from the Beacon House (their residence).  He loved introducing his family and friends to all that Florida had to offer. He inspired a love for the lake, the mountains, and the Florida Gulf Coast that lives on in all of his family.

Edgar is survived by his wife, Virginia; children Julie (Jeff) Huot, Jackson, WY, Steve (Leann) Wright, Fargo, ND, Jenny Alberding, Austin, TX, Sally (Erik) Lindell, Northfield, MN; sister Marion Cain, San Antonio, TX; daughter-in-law Janet (Jeff) Wright Mortenson, Lake Park, MN; grandchildren Leif (YingYing) and Nils Huot, Emily Wright, Elise and Gabe Wright, Karl and Ingrid Alberding, Siri and Peder Lindell.

He was preceded in death by his son, Edgar “Chip” Wright, III, and his grandson, Eric Wright.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 28th, 2020, from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead. Social distancing will be observed and masks are expected.

The funeral will be private on Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church with a livestream starting at 11:00 on Ed’s obituary page on the funeral home website.

Interment will be in Prairie Home Cemetery, Moorhead.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or Habitat for Humanity.