Sara J. Wright

Sara J. Wright, 85, of Terre Haute, died at 12:17 a.m. Monday, July 1, 2019, in Harrison's Crossing Health Center. She was born Jan. 18, 1934, in Sullivan, to Cecil R. Smith and Margaret (Magill) Smith. She and her husband, Ren, owned Wright Properties Inc., an apartment rental business, until his death on May 1, 1997.

Survivors include two sons, Mark Wright and John Wright; one daughter, Julie Wright; four grandchildren, Eric Wright (Jenny), Jennifer Wright (Travis Nyswonger-Sanchez), Samantha Cocroft (Mychael), and Ann Bowman (Mark); six great-grandchildren, Nathan Wright, Ella Wright, Nia Cocroft, Clinton Cocroft, Natalie Bowman and Crosby Bowman; nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Pat Nash.

Sara and Ren married in 1952 in Sullivan and moved to Terre Haute in 1954 as he began a long career with E.H. Bindley & Co. wholesale druggists until starting his apartment rental business in 1978. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Smith on May 28, 1950, and Karen Ridge Brunso on Jan. 30, 2019.
Sara and her husband were a popular singing duo locally in the 1980s and '90s. With Ren on banjo and lead vocal, and Sara on keyboards and singing harmony, they played festivals, lounges, picnics, schools and special occasions. After Ren's death, she performed with her guitar-playing sons as "Sara & the Boys." She was a member of the Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Fame, Terre Haute Senior Bowling League and various other groups and organizations over the years including Sweet Adelines and Community Theatre of Terre Haute (casts of "Brigadoon," 1980; and "Carnival," 1983). Sara sang in perfect pitch, danced superbly, enjoyed life and strived to live by the principles posted in the living room of her home: "Moderation... Simplicity... Sensibility... and Love."

Services are at 2 p.m. Friday at DeBaun Springhill Chapel. Visitation is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. As per Sara's wishes, in lieu of flowers, please donate to Vigo County CASA, 141 Oak St., Terre Haute, IN 47807.
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sara J. Wright, please visit our floral store.