Barbara Jean Wright

Barbara Jean Wright, 70 — or 58 according to Barbara’s calendar — passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. She was born Dec. 1, 1948 in Shiner to Jim and Aline Hartman Benes.  She married Kenneth Warren Wright on May 7, 1993 in Gonzales.  Barbara was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Gonzales Elks Lodge and had been an active member of the City of Gonzales Friends of the Library.

Barbara was born and raised in Shiner as the only girl in a family of five.  She attended Shiner Public School where she participated with the Persuasive Speaking Club.  She graduated with the Class of 1967. 

In those days Barbara enjoyed attending dances in various area venues to enjoy the music of The Moods, B.J. Thomas, and Roy Head and the Traits to name a few of the popular bands of the time.  After graduation Barbara moved to Houston and worked for the telephone company before moving back to Gonzales where she married Jerry Gorden.  She began working at the Gonzales Public Library, a career that she would enjoy for 28 years, 14 years of which she worked as the director of the library. 

Barbara taught Sunday school at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church and started her own business, TCB Jewelry, which she treasured for 25 years. As life would have it, changes in our personal lives happen and Barbara married Kenneth Wright, a companion and a blessing she had long prayed she would find.

Barbara had a zest for life and she was delightfully funny. She lived life “all-in” with an abundance of love for family and friends.  She cherished her trips to the casinos with friends and “hanging out” with her girlfriends who lovingly called themselves the “Weeza’s,” a play on the curmudgeonist character “Ouiser Boudreaux” of the movie “Steel Magnolias”.   

Barbara was the rock of her family and the glue which held them all together.  She was strong, articulate and the foundation in leading her family to her Christian faith.  Barbara was ever present in her children’s lives and their biggest supporter.  She relished time spent with her grandchildren feverishly working to arrange “Boo Camp” in the summer with treasure hunts and scavenger hunts at Christmas.  “Boo,” as her grandchildren lovingly called her, had tons of energy and thrived on making everlasting memories with her grandchildren.  You see the “Weeza’s” were just for fun, being a wife, mom, sister and Boo was love and the greatest of all is love.

Barbara Jean Wright is survived by her adoring family, husband, Kenneth W. Wright of Gonzales; daughter, Sunny Lynn Lehnert of Round Rock; sons and daughters-in-law, Bryan Kelly Gorden and Pam of New Braunfels, Kyle Ashley Wright of Gonzales, Brock Grayson-Tate Wright and Kathleen of Pearsall; brothers and sister-in-law, Jimmy Benes of Burnet, Ronnie and Frances Benes of Richmond, Gary Benes of Shiner and Bruce Benes of Yoakum; grandchildren, Abigail Gorden, Reese Gorden, Tristan Wright, Lily Wright, Lindsey Lehnert, Shiloh Wright and Everly Wright.  She was preceded in death by her parents and twin sisters born premature.

The family will receive friends from 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with Pastor Ildiko Rigney officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Pat Benes, Larry Benes, Randy Poppelz, Keith Busby, Daniel Benes and Ray Logan. 

Memorials may be made to the City of Gonzales Friends of the Library.  Friends may leave their condolences by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.  Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.