Althea J. (Smith) Wright

Althea J. Wright of Waupaca, age 77, passed away surrounded by love on Monday, February 27, 2023. She was born in Rockford, Illinois on April 28, 1945 to the late Robert and Esther (Robinson) Smith. On December 23, 1974 she married David Wright at Harlem Methodist Church in Rockford, Illinois. Althea was a member of Wild Rose Baptist Church. 
She received a bachelor's degree in Education from Bob Jones University, and spent many years teaching children. Later she went on to attain a master's degree in Library Science from UW Madison. She spent her final working years before retirement as a library media specialist at Doty and Langlade elementary schools in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Teaching children and enchanting them with her love of books & reading was one of her greatest joys. 
Her life's ambition was to have babies, watch them grow up, and surround herself with grandchildren. Althea spent spring & summer days in her country garden, bringing flowers to full bloom with her magical green fingers. She was a bright, strong woman with a surprise spunk underneath her red hair & freckled sweetness. Althea invested her deepest love in her family all the way to the end. 
She will be sadly missed by her husband David; children:  Amanda and Clifton, grandchildren: Griffin, Jamison, and Rebel, siblings: Billy and Margaret, nephews, nieces, extended family, friends, past students, and her cat Suzie. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a beloved unborn infant, siblings Arletta, Burt, Lois, Rachel; her in laws Fran & Carl Wright, and many pets that she adored. 
The Memorial Service will be on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. at the Maple Crest Funeral Home. Friends and family may gather on Thursday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. There will be a reception with nourishment at Wild Rose Baptist Church immediately after the service. 
Althea loved the brightest flowers-especially giant roses, hydrangeas, tulips. She compared her strength to the delicate & powerful purple saxifrage flower. In her happiest days, she traveled the world with her husband David. One of her favorite dreams come true was surrounding herself in the flowers of Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the world.

In honor of Althea's love for all the beautiful things, please feel free to bring one of your favorite flowers to place around her urn at the service. In celebration of Althea's love for vibrant spring colors, traditional black attire is not required.

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