ALBERT R. (AL) WRIGHT,
a retired psychotherapist, died Saturday, Oct. 30, at his home in Maumelle following a lengthy period of declining health due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 85.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Ray Brown officiating. A celebration of life will follow from 4-7 p.m. at Cypress Social at 7103 Cock of the Walk Lane in North Little Rock. Online visitation is available through the Ruebel Funeral Home website, RuebelFuneralHome.com
Al was a Licensed Certified Social Worker and spent 32 years in the mental health field as both a counselor and consultant. As a counselor, he worked with persons seeking emotional maturity and others with adjustment issues and various mental health challenges. As a consultant, he presented workshops and seminars to community and municipal agencies and the nursing home industry to enhance the quality-of-life for senior citizens.
Born in Hot Springs, son of the late Birta and Louie Wright. Al attended Hot Springs High School and joined the Army at 17. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and found himself stationed in Korea as an ordnance disposal specialist only months after the Korean War armistice was signed.
After being discharged in 1956, he settled in Hot Springs until the mid-1960s when he moved to Little Rock. He completed a bachelor’s degree and a master of social work degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He received further training in genetic and gestalt psychology at Pine River Institute in Atlanta. Al’s passion was fishing -— especially trout fishing in Arkansas.
Al leaves his wife, Patricia (Trish) Wright; two sons, Doug Wright and Mike Wright, both of Little Rock; five stepchildren, Max (Christy) Frazer of Austin, Texas, James (Sasha) Frazer of San Jose, Calif., Laura (Bobby) Gassaway of Maumelle, John (Cat) Frazer of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Stephen Frazer of Maumelle; and a sister, Laverne Bowles of Maumelle. One son, Robin Wright, and his brother, James Wright, preceded him in death.
He also leaves nine grandchildren, Katherine Frazer of New York City; Ashleigh Frazer and Heather Frazer, both of Searcy; Sam Gassaway, Evan Gassaway, Ben Gassaway, and Will Gassaway, all of Maumelle; Aneli Frazer of San Jose, Calif.; and Spencer (Sara) Balz of Franklin, Tenn.; and one great-grandchild, Emery Balz of Franklin, Tenn.
The family sends special thanks to Brandi, Leah, and Devon of Kindred Hospice—Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Maumelle, where Al was a member, or to St. Francis House in Little Rock, where Al volunteered after his retirement 13 years ago.