Dale L. Wright

Funeral services for Dale L. Wright, 78 year-old Campbell County rancher and third-generation Wyoming native who passed away Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, at the Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the New Life Wesleyan Church in Gillette with Rachael Ward as Celebrant.

Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo with graveside services to be held at 4 p.m. following the funeral and reception at the church.

Donations in Mr. Wright’s memory may be made to the Wright Centennial Museum in care of the Adams Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams, Buffalo, WY 82834.

Dale Lester Wright was born Aug. 21, 1934, in Gillette to Lester and Faith (Allread) Wright.

He grew up and went to school in Gillette graduating from Campbell County High School with the class of 1952.

During high school, Dale received a private pilot’s license and followed that passion for the rest of his life. He received an award for most likely to achieve his goals from his teacher, Mrs. Warlow, who supported and encouraged his dream of flying. As soon as he received his pilot’s license, he held up his promise to her and took her for her first ride in an airplane.

After high school, he went to Linch where he worked in the oil fields.

He attended Casper College, where he took general studies in the mid-1950s.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and served for two years and received an honorable discharge.

After his military obligation, Dale became an aviation instructor and put on many workshops all over the country for the FAA. He also spent time flying for the federal government counting wildlife in Wyoming and Colorado, and spent time in North Dakota flying for Morrison-Knudsen, all of which gave him many stories to share.

In the ’60s, he moved to Buffalo and was a flight instructor at the airport. Some of his best memories were his time spent in Buffalo and the friends made there.

While in Buffalo, he met an English teacher/librarian, Marcia Nichols, whom he married on New Year’s Eve 1965 in Las Vegas.

In 1965, they moved to Casper where she worked at the Casper College Library and, once again, he was a flight instructor at Natrona County Airport. In 1970, they moved to the family ranch in Wright and continued raising sheep.

The last 10 years. they spent their winters in Wickenburg, Ariz. Mrs. Wright passed away in December of 2011 and Dale continued at the ranch until the time of his death.

Along with his passion for flying, Dale was a World War II history buff. Anyone who was around him much also knew of his interest in the Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch; its history and memorabilia. Wyoming was ultimately his home and the place he loved most, intriguing him with its history that he enjoyed sharing.

He has been a card-carrying AOPA member since 1954. He also was a 50 Year Member of the Sheridan Elks Lodge #250. In the ’80s he served on the Campbell County Parks and Recreation Board and has served on the Wright Centennial Museum Board since 1990 as an original member.

Dale has always said, “That every person has worth and every person has talent, you just have to find it.” He believed in the sheep industry and was a strong promoter of wool.

He is survived by one daughter, Nolene L. Wright of Wright, and a great host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Faith Wright, his wife, Marcia Nichols Wright, and one sister, Marcia Wright Thrush.