Gary Sheppard Wright, 80, of Ripley, WV, passed away peacefully July 17, 2026 in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV, in sight of his beloved Mountaineer Stadium with his family by his side.

Gary was born May 4, 1946, in Spencer, WV, to the late Alden Clyde and Nellie Blanche (Sheppard) Wright and resided in Reedy, WV. At the age of two the family moved to Ripley for his father's work at the First National Bank of Ripley, now United Bank. He spent his childhood on Charleston Drive with neighborhood friends fishing and playing baseball in multiple leagues and for the Ripley Vikings during high school. After graduation from Ripley High School in 1964, Gary enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Langley Airforce Base and then three years at High Wycombe Air Force Base in England as a teletype operator. He enjoyed his time in England and would tell stories of riding the tube to London, visiting Stonehenge and seeing many of the 1960's British Bands on base and at small pubs.

After his time in the Air Force, Gary briefly attended Fairmont State before returning to his childhood home in Ripley after his mothers passing. He worked for a short time at the bank with his father before beginning a career with Kaiser Aluminum later Constellium where he retired in 2009 and was a proud member of the United Steelworkers Union Local # 5668 Ravenswood. His most beloved job and driving force was being a husband, father and grandfather. Gary and Donna met over a milkshake and married August 11, 1973 and traveled the state in their much-loved dune buggy. He always made sure his family would have everything they could ever want or need. Computers for college, instruments for band, a special meal or a hug with words of encouragement when things didn't seem to work out. Everyone knew that Papaw Gary would be there for us in every way.

Gary enjoyed camping and traveling in general and included many of his nieces and nephews along with Crissie's childhood friends on these adventures to beaches, amusement parks and any lake in West Virginia he could launch the glittering bright orange bass boat. Gary was a lifelong sports fan of all kinds attending WVU and Cincinnati Reds games with his family every chance he had.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Phillip (Mary) Wright and David (Agnes) Wright; Father and mother-in-law James and Juanita Prunty; sister in laws Jene Bunnell, Eileen Simon and Angela Hackney; brother in laws, Jim Prunty, Camden Guthrie, Wayne Simon, Ronald Hackney and a nephew Aaron Prunty.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Donna (Prunty) Wright; daughter, Christina Wright (Jeremy "Fred" Conley) grandchildren, Jade Burgess, Danica Grim and Tyler Grimm all of Ripley, WV and granddaughter in his heart Alyssa Grim of Sandyville; brother-in-law, Franklin (Rebecca) Prunty of Elizabeth; sister in laws, Elaine Guthrie of Navarre, OH, Shirley (Tommy) Murray of Sandyville, Denise King and Regina (Paul Jr.) Nuzum both of Ravenswood. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins who he loved very much.

The family would like to thank Dr. Malik and his staff, WVU Medicine and Miletree Center for their loving care of Gary in these last weeks.

Dad would not want us sad. He would encourage us to go take that trip, catch that big bass, watch all those goofy spaghetti westerns and play the radio full blast.

You had a grand-slam dad. Run home, we will see you soon.

Service will be 1 p.m. ~ Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Casto Funeral Home, Evans, WV, with Rev. Andrew Robinson officiating. Visitation will be from 12 o'clock noon until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Burial with military honors will be 10 a.m. ~ Monday July 27, 2026 in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV.

Arrangements provided by Casto Funeral Home, Evans, WV.

Condolences may be shared with the family at: castofuneralhome.com