Roy Rush Wright, M.D., born June 24,1934, in Opp, AL, went home to be with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his family on December 22, 2023, in Denver, Colorado, where he resided since 1968.

Dr . Wright is preceded in death by his father, Claude G. Wright; mother, Myrtle P. Wright; brothers Thomas L. Wright and Claude S. Wright; and, wife, Barbara H. Wright, PhD, part-time Department of English Faculty at The Colorado Women's College, and The Women's College at The University of Denver, and his co-adventurer of 45 years.

Dr. Wright is survived by sisters Mabel Gibson of Opp, AL; and, Myrtle Floyd of Niceville, FL; his first wife, Elizabeth Turrentine of Englewood, CO, and their children, Alice Morrow of Tulsa, OK; Sandra Hurton of London, England; Roy Wright Jr. of Denver, CO; Carolyn Smith of Littleton, CO; their six grandchildren; and their 12 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Wright is also survived by his stepchildren Anne Hebert of Denver, CO; Ellen Kerkhoff of Centennial, CO; Edward Kreutzer of Oakland, CA; four step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

Dr. Wright's education was extensive: Washington University School of Medicine Neurology Resident; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Neurology Internship; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Graduate; Vanderbilt University, Pathology Fellow; Vanderbilt University, BS in Physics and Microbiology, Summa Cum Laude; Opp High School, Salutatorian.

Some of Dr. Wright's career highlights are, he was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; was one of ten to administer the National American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for Neurology; in 1967, recruited as Neuro Researcher and first Neurologist at University of Alabama Medical School at Birmingham; recruited in 1968 as Neuro Researcher at University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine, Department of Neurology; Adjunct Professor teaching Neuroanatomy at CU School of Dentistry.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Wright went into Neurology Private Practice with privileges at Swedish Medical Center, Porter Hospital, and Craig Hospital, while continually maintaining privileges at CU. He also continued his teaching career as Adjunct Professor at University of Colorado.

Circa 1990, he "retired" from private practice to accept a role as Clinical Practice Director of Neurology at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC). He was responsible for bringing Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease to UCHSC, and continued to champion it. Dr. Wright "retired" from UCHSC in 2000, but continued as Adjunct Professor, and presenter at Neurology Grand Rounds. He was honored in Opp, AL, at a "One of Our Own" event for his lifetime achievements.

In 2001, at the request of his patients, Dr. Wright entered his "final phase" of Private Practice serving his longtime patients and the Medicare community, while continuing cutting edge neurology until his final retirement at age 82.

Dr. Wright hobbies were extraordinary, Astronomy and Aeronautics Enthusiast - Skywatcher, constructed 8" lens telescope and other telescopes, and observed super nova in advance of formal discovery. He progressed from building childhood model airplanes to Private Pilot's Licensure. Bicycling - Riding with four kids on one bike, and bicycle courier for downhill cyclists. Calculus Enthusiast - Saturday afternoon activity building an armillary sphere. To quote Albert Einstein: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Electronics and Technology Builder - from sound systems for vinyl records, reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, VHS, CDs, and DVDs. Four Wheel Trail Driver - from his Model A over dirt roads in the Tetons in the early 1950s, to our 1960s Pontiac rear-wheel-drive convertible, to his well-explored 1980s Pathfinder, "Buck", over roads that weren't roads and even crossed a ravine using a cobbled-together bridge! Geologist Amateur and Rock Collector - offered position teaching geology and astronomy at the college level. Hiker, Backpacker, Climber, and Walker - climber of his beloved Indian Peaks and Colorado 14ers, and beyond; walks down 17th Avenue Parkway, and Cranmer Sundial Park; hitchhiker to Jackson Hole, WY, in the early 1950s, before buying his Model A. Inventor - architected and created stained glass sundial, and registry of sunset points of the Front Range Colorado mountains. Man of the Mountains - Jackson Hole, WY, ranch hand; and U.S. Grand Teton National Park Forest Service employee. Musician - tenor soloist, Member of Vanderbilt A Cappella Choir, and trumpet player in Vanderbilt University Marching Band. Connoisseur of Classical, Opera, Musicals, and early Rock and Roll music. Season ticket holder for Colorado Symphony. Photographer Amateur - waiting 20+ minutes for clouds to move out of picture, and taking over ??? thousand photo slides. Sailing - Borden Medical School Award used to build Sunfish sailboat for sailing his beloved lakes in Nashville, Colorado, Valparaiso Bayou, et al. Samoyed, Golden Retriever, and Allergic-to-Cats Lover - his beloved Sepia, Zhivago, Cressie, Shadow, Misty, and Boopsie… Skier - alpine and cross country, Instructor Dad which included pre-lessons to four kids on how to fall with ski poles on dry ground in front yard. Software Pioneer - founder and co-inventor of electronic medical records in the 1980s, which included doctor's printed office visit summary handed personally to his patients in the examination room. Sold a neurology software program which Swedish Medical Center leveraged until the early 2000s. Sunset aficionado.

Dr. Wright was also a lover of sports, which included playing football at Opp High School.  He also played junior high school baseball, with a coaching assist from his dad, an Auburn University stand out as catcher, as well as for the 1929 St. Louis Cardinals. He loved to explore!  Among some of his favorite places were Jackson Hole, WY; Moab, UT; Indian Peaks of CO; Canadian and Colorado Rockies; Scotland; England; the Gulf Coast; and Opp, AL.

With heartfelt thanks to all of you for your thoughtful and kind words to celebrate and remember our wonderful father, we would like to you to know: Dad/ Roy/ Papa, will be honored with a private Memorial Gathering and Scattering of His Ashes Ceremony by his family for his 90th birthday posthumously."

We would be grateful if you would please share your memories and photos here to celebrate his life.

Memorials may be made in his name to Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Department of Neurology , or First Baptist Church (Pipe Organ Fund) , 110 E. Hart Ave., Opp, AL 36467, http://www.firstbaptistopp.net/ .