Otis Wright

Otis Lee Wright was born to Gracie Mask and Joe Dudley Wright in Buckner, Arkansas on August 14, 1928, and went to Glory on November 13, 2024, at the age of 96. 

He attended elementary and Jr. high school in Stamps, Arkansas and spent his teenage years in Ogden, Utah. He graduated from Roston High, a boarding high school in Roston, Arkansas.

After graduation from high school, Otis hitched a ride to Pine Bluff AM&N in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to attend college. Upon arrival, he told the college secretary he had no money butwanted to go to college. They had him wait while she talked with the administrator. They supplied him with food, a room, and a job in the library where he worked for two years and then went into the Army. He was stationed at Camp Roberts in California where he was trained as a dental assistant. He was later sent to Korea where he worked in a hospital and earned the rank of Corporal in the US Army Medical Corps until he was sent back to the States where he met his future wife, Gertherene. After dating her for one week, he told her he was going to marry her and three years later, he did. He went back to college and completed the final two years of his degree with straight A’s and a graduate degree in Industrial Arts and a minor in Social Studies.

After completing college in 1951, Otis came to California and was employed by the U.S.Postal Service for approximately a year, and from there he was employed by the City of Los Angeles where he worked for 10 years. He then went back to school and became certified to teach in the State of California.

In the meantime, Otis opened Slauson Lawn Mower Shop where he serviced lawn equipment for golf courses and local gardeners. He later sold the business to begin teaching high school.

Otis taught at El Rancho High School, in Pico Rivera, for 28years. During his teaching career, he taught Auto Shop, History, and Social Studies, including a women’s class in auto repair. While teaching, he opened a home-based driver training business, Ace Driving School. He was known and loved by many teenagers and their grateful parents in Hacienda Heights for his special way of teaching driving skills especially on the freeway with his trademark phrase, “You got to gas up! “He continued this business well into retirement. 

While teaching, Otis continued his education and obtained a master’s degree in Education with enough units to earn a Doctorate, however, he discovered that a Doctorate degree would require him to enter administration rather than classroom teaching. Otis forewent this last advanced degree because he liked classroom teaching and being with his family. He never regretted that decision.

Otis was a dedicated member of St. Stephen Baptist Church where he faithfully attended Sunday School and worked along with his wife with the Homeless Ministry for many years

Fishing, traveling, being outdoors and spending time with his family were the most enjoyable pastimes to him.

Otis is greatly loved by his family and leaves to cherish his memory his wife of almost 67 years, Gertherene.

Children: Robbie Wright, Monique (Keith) Gordon, andChristopher (Kimberly) Wright. Five grandsons: Nicco Wright, Cameron Wright, Austin Wright, Jourdan Wright, and Malcolm Gordon. One great-grandson: Dallas Gordon. Two sisters: Barbara Wright Pryor, and Linda Wright.

His Bonus children: Amme Taylor, Sherrell Thomas, Mi MiLindsey, Crystal Lawrence, Reverend Jamel Bow, Mother Deborah Tucker, Haley Caylor, and Brice Billets. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Gracie Mask; Father, Joe Dudley Wright, Aunt who raised him Jessie Clemmons, Grandmother Sally Mask, Grandmother Roena Wright Miller, Brother Reggie Wright, Sister-cousins, Hazel McCullen, and Bobbie Hellen, Brother-cousins, Fred Mask, Lee Mask Jr., and Votis Madison.