Rodney Wayne Wright, 81.

Rodney Wayne Wright, 81, loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather, went to be with the Lord, from his home in Branson, Missouri on Saturday, May 17, 2025. He died of cancer caused by Agent Orange from his service in Viet Nam.

He was born on June 29, 1943 in Houlton, Maine, the son of Richard Wright and Charlotte Golding Wright. He lost his Mom when he was 6, from a car accident. His dad married his stepmom, Letha Grass, who became his Mom when Rod was 8. He attended schools in Passadumkeag, Maine and graduated from Vanceboro High School in 1962. On December 2, 1963, he married his fiancé Carla Little in Vanceboro, Maine. There were married nearly 62 years.

Rodney joined the United States Air Force in 1963 and was stationed as an Air Policeman at Topsham Air Base in Topsham, Maine. A1C Rodney Wright served in Viet Nam at Tan Son Nhut Air Base from October 1965 to November 1966 in the 377^th Air Police Squadron. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

He worked for UPS for a number of years before moving to Branson, Missouri in 1991, where he built an apartment complex and upon selling it, he and his wife Carla opened Kayak Branson in 2009. He sold it in 2020 and they both retired.

Rodney attended both Woodland Hills Church in Branson, and James River Church in Ozark, Missouri. He loved both churches and tithed to both. He was a member of the Branson Veterans Task Force, one of the original veteran support organizations in Branson, for a number of years, serving as Chairman of the Board for several of those years. He received the True American Hero Award by the Mozark Chapter Military Officers Association of America in 2007. He supported the 700 Club, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Wounded Warriors of America, Shriners Children Hospital and St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carla, of the home; his beloved daughter, Tanya Degner, and his precious grandchildren, Blake Degner, Scarlett Degner and Pilar Degner of Springfield, Missouri; brother Dick Wright (Barbara) of Forsyth, Missouri and Florida; brothers, Gary Wright and Donald Wright (Teresa) of Maine and sisters, Gail Thornton (Rex) of Maine and Cheryl McDonald (Terry) of New Brunswick, Canada; along with many nieces and nephews. Rodney was predeceased by his father, Richard Wright and moms, Charlotte Wright and Letha Wright; sisters, Fleurette Crommett of Canton, Georgia and Paula Phelps of Maine.

Military honors and memorial services will be held at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, May 27^th, 2025 at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, 1638 E. State Hwy 76, Branson, MO 65616.  Memorial contributions are welcome to Woodland Hills Church, James River Church or a cancer foundation of the donor’s choice.

Thank you to his friends and both churches for your loving support.