Teddy “Ted” Clayton Wright (89) passed away peacefully on Monday, August 22, 2022, at the age of 89 at Cedar Creek Retirement Community in Madera. Ted was born in Granite, OK to Gerstle and Irene Wright on June 25, 1933. He was the youngest of three children.

Ted’s family moved to California when he was 7 years old and settled in the Tulare area. As a Junior in high school and shortly after Ted’s 17th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy June 27, 1950. After basic training, he was assigned to the USS Cavalier and served during the Korean War. Ted earned the National Defense Service Metal, United Nations Service Metal, China Service Metal, and Korean Service Metal. Ted received an Honorable Discharge on April 17, 1954.

Ted returned to the Tulare area and went back to school. Ted said, “if I don’t get an education and graduate, how can I persuade others to do the same.” Ted received an “AA Degree” from the College of the Sequoias (COS) and started working in the Dairy Refrigeration Industry.

Ted with his late wife, Carole Ann Cheney Wright, and his family moved to Chowchilla, where they started their own business. Wright’s Dairy Refrigeration Service started in 1970. Ted and Carole immediately began making friends and started their charitable work. Ted was well known in the dairy refrigeration and refrigeration industries. Ted worked on dairies, grocery stores, restaurants, or anyone else who called for assistance. He worked on equipment all over Central California: Salinas, Stockton, Chowchilla, Tulare, and on and on. If someone called Ted, he would help get the equipment up and running.

Ted and Carole assisted with the construction at the Portuguese Hall, and Henry Massaro Stadium, and built batting cages for the Chowchilla High School baseball team. They were also active supporters of the 4-H and FFA groups and several other community organizations.

Ted also loved life and enjoyed playing golf. If you saw Ted on a dairy or a strawberry packing house, you would probably find a couple of golf clubs behind his seat just in case his yellow service truck stumbled upon a golf course to hit some golf balls.

Ted lost the love of his life after 42 years of marriage in 2009. In addition to Carole, he is preceded in death by his son Kevin Wright and his daughter Deanna Brummett.

Ted is survived by his daughters Leanne Wright and fiancé Lynn Hollier, Leslie Espinola and husband Gene Espinola, daughter-in-law Angel Wright (widow of Kevin Wright), and seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Ted also leaves many wonderful friends and extended family who loved him dearly.

The visitation will be on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, from 4 to 7 PM at Jays Chapel in Madera. Recitation of the Rosary will be in Chowchilla on Thursday, September 1, 2022, at 9:30 AM in St. Columba Catholic Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated after the Rosary at 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 1, 2022. Interment will follow in Chowchilla Cemetery.

In Ted’s memory, remembrances may be made to Chowchilla VFW Post 9896, 245 S. 5th Street, Chowchilla, CA 93610, or St. Columba Catholic Church, 213 Orange Avenue, Chowchilla, CA 93610.