Benjamin Ward Wright, Jr.

\"Gladly would he learn and gladly teach.\" Chaucer

 Benjamin Ward Wright, Jr., Associate Professor of History Emeritus, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, died Tuesday, January 3rd, at Lynchburg General Hospital,  Ben retired in 1992. Born in Saluda, Virginia, Ben Wright was the oldest of two sons of Benjamin Ward Wright, Sr. and Ellen Douglas Moody Wright, who, along with his brother Douglas, preceded him in death.

 He is survived by four nephews:  Christopher Preble Wright, and Angela Lynne Jamerson  of Forest; Keith Ashby Wright and his wife Sarah of Lynchburg;  Kevin Douglas Wright and his wife Amy, of Lakeland,  Florida, and Timothy Paul Wright and Sherri Halloran, of Richmond, VA.

 He also delighted in having great nieces and nephews: Carlynne Marie Wright, Hannah Ashby Wright, Emma Taylor Uzzo, Katelynne Ann Wright, Lauren Elizabeth Wright and nephews Parker Lee Wright and Kennedy Preble Wright. He is also survived by Phillip Burns.

 His nephews attest to his love for them and say Uncle Ben had an engaging personality, always with an opinion which intrigued them, on whatever topic they were discussing.

Uncle Ben loved to speak of his most recent purchases at the local farmer's market, his visits to the grocery store, and how his latest restaurant experience turned out.



He always sent post cards from of the many places he visited and enjoyed sharing his experiences with those close to him.



Uncle Ben was a loving Uncle with a good sense of humor, and they loved him very much.

A scholar and historian, he was one of the original faculty members of Central Virginia Community College, where he taught until his retirement. He cherished his education–a B. A. from Randolph-Macon College, and an M. A. degree from the University of Virginia.  As the present CVCC building was being built in 1967, classes were first taught at The Krise Building in downtown Lynchburg where Ben was assistant professor of history and director of the library.  He and Rom Shober, Jim Valentine, Katherine Barringer, and Bill Williams were the first of the full time faculty members of the Lynchburg Extension of the University of Virginia to be transferred to CVCC when the community college system was developed.

 Ben\"™s profession as college teacher was of utmost importance to him.   In addition to his teaching, he served as Acting Chairman of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences at CVCC.  He was founder and president of the Faculty Senate of CVCC.

 Ben was actively involved in the American Association of University Professors. A member of the Washington Performing Arts Society, Ben brought many cultural events to CVCC. His year-long experience on World Campus Afloat in 1969 provided life changing enrichment.  College teachers and students travel the world, with credit fully transferable.  Now called Semester at Sea, this program is offered by the Institute for Shipboard Education, headquartered in Charlottesville and sponsored by Ben\"™s alma mater, UVA.

 Ben loved history and often offered Lynchburg History courses to the community, with interesting field trips.  As a Director of the Lynchburg Historical Foundation in 1972-73, he was involved with the merger of that organization with the Historic Lynchburg Foundation begun in 1934.  Ben served as President of LHF from 1974-1975, and was a Life Member. Friends remember he was involved in the early days of the Poplar Forest Foundation and think he was responsible for taking famed historian A. L. Rowse to see Poplar Forest.  This visit resulted in Dr. Rowse\"™s writing a major article on the site for The New York Times.

 Ben was generous to his many friends, bringing gifts of cakes and cookies from his favorite baker for Christmas, Easter, and other celebrations.  He remembered which friend preferred which cake and never forgot food allergies.

 Many recall that he always remembered the birthdays of his many friends and sent cards on all occasions, as he valued written communication.  When the daughter of good friends living abroad was hospitalized for three months, Ben arranged with a local mail carrier to send a card to her every day.  This ten year old little girl delighted in the daily cards  and still treasures them.

 Ben enjoyed good food and delighted  in fine restaurants.  When he returned from Washington, New York or New England, he would regale colleagues with detailed comments about what he had enjoyed in his meals. His baker friend said, \"He never worried about calories.  He was my favorite customer because he loved having good food.\"  Friends can attest to going to restaurants with him where he would always suggest a change in his order.  One friend recalls:  \"He is the only person I know who could order a shrimp cocktail at the bus station in Washington, D. C. and complain to the waitress that the shrimp were not fresh.\"

 Ben is also probably the only person who has ever asked for a change in his order at the Texas Inn.   He treated every meal as a potential gourmet experience.

 Friends are invited to remember Ben on Monday, January 16, 2012 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at Tharp Funeral Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502.

The family requests that memorial gifts be sent to the CVCC Education Foundation (Attn. Donald Sutton, 3506 Wards Rd, Lynchburg, 24502,) or The Lynchburg Historical Foundation (325 12th St. Lynchburg 24502.)

 Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory of Lynchburg, VA is assisting the family, 434 237-9424.

 

 

 

 

Â