Obituary of Glenn Rudolph Wright, Jr.

Glenn Rudolph (Rudy) Wright, Jr. was a loved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and mayor.  Rudy was a successful businessman, smart entrepreneur, and dedicated public servant.  His humble beginnings taught him much about what it means to work hard and help others.  He lived his life with passion and a great big smile.

Rudy was born to Glenn Rudolph Wright and Nannie Coleen Wright in Wytheville, Virginia, on July 6, 1947.  Living in a home with five children and no indoor toilets instilled in him an appreciation for things earned and a lifelong commitment to help those less fortunate.

In the sixth grade, Rudy met his lifelong love, Donna Suthers (she was in the fourth grade).  Together they attended four consecutive proms at George Wythe High School, and Rudy worked his first job at Count’s Drug on Main Street.

Rudy and Donna were married June 29, 1968 at St. Paul United Methodist Church.  From there, their lifelong partnership began.  Donna worked as a secretary at Virginia Tech to support Rudy’s dream to be the first in his family to graduate from college.  It was there that he picked up two of his lifelong passions, the Virginia Tech Hokies and the game of golf.

He took his B.S. in accounting out of state to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he embraced being a North Carolinian, a label he’d wear with pride the rest of his life.

Professional success brought him to Raleigh, where Rudy and Donna welcomed their three children, Ashley, Glenn and Justin, and bought their first house.  Donna worked tirelessly at home to raise their children with the values of community and public service that they both held dear.

Free time was spent at N.C. State football games, vacations to Topsail Beach, and giving back.  The family spent Thanksgivings serving meals to the homeless and Christmas Eves delivering gifts to the poor.

Career stops in Sanford and Charlotte led him to the place he was meant to be…Hickory.

In Hickory, Rudy found a community that captured his heart and embraced his family.  Rudy and Donna established their business of twenty-two years.  Rudy was a member of First Presbyterian Church, held season tickets to the Crawdads, and drove the boat while his kids learned to waterski on Lake Hickory.

In 2001, Rudy ran for his first elected office, mayor of Hickory.  He won decisively.  Rudy loved being mayor of Hickory.  For nearly sixteen years, he held the position with great pride, working every day to strengthen Hickory’s community and competitiveness.  He was quick to listen to problems big or small, pose for a photo, ask about a loved one, or offer his personal phone number.  He loved representing the City during civic events and on his own time, wearing with pride City of Hickory baseball caps and t-shirts on vacations and trips around the world.  He loved people and never met a stranger, but Rudy always held a special place in his heart for the people of Hickory.  He always had a high five for a child, a hug for an elder, and, of course, that ear-to-ear smile for everyone.

Rudy’s public service legacy will be well-documented and the effects of that smile and his love for all are too numerous to mention.  His philanthropy and commitment to giving back impacted people around this world, from international development and aid through Rotary International, to local business through the Chamber of Commerce, to supporting the poor through the Salvation Army, to giving children a happy place at Zayre’s Playground, a few causes among many he supported.  His love for animals was evidenced by his loyal dogs and driving partners, Reina, and Lucky before her, proof that there’s a forever home for even the craziest of rescue animals.

Those that survive him will always carry more than a bit of Rudy in them.

His four younger siblings and their spouses, Jerry Randolph Wright and wife Janet, Sharon Dianne Stephens and husband Alfred, Nancy Paige Wright Stiles and husband Ron, and Rebecca Jean Wright Stevenson and husband Michael, and their children and grandchildren, will always know that it’s possible to seek life and career opportunities elsewhere, while staying close to family and true to the values of Wytheville.

His two grandchildren, Josephine Amelia Wright, and Glenn Rudolph Wright IV, will always remember that time with Pop meant silly jokes, pocketfuls of quarters, hometown outings combining service and fun, and that people from all walks of life should be treated with kindness and respect.

His three children and their wives, Ashley Suthers Wright, Glenn Rudolph Wright III and Christine Posluszny Wright, and Justin Randolph Wright and Melissa McLane Wright, will always know how to plan amazing and adventurous trips across the globe, possess a fierce and competitive love for games and Trivial Pursuit, and embrace a commitment to helping others.

And his beloved wife of forty-nine years, Donna Suthers Wright, will always hold dear the decades of memories they shared, while honoring Rudy’s legacy by continuing to give back, just as he would have done.

A graveside service will be held 1 P.M. Saturday, November 25, 2017 at West End Cemetery, Wytheville, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Hickory.

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.