Wayne K. Wright, Dr., Class of 1960

Dr. Wayne K. Wright was born June 27, 1938, to Irene B. Wright ’29 and M.L. Wright and grew up in Vandalia. He was a 1956 graduate of Vandalia-Butler High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Otterbein in 1960. Wayne met his wife, and fellow Otterbein alumna, Susan Allaman Wright ’62. The two actually met while on a university-sponsored trip to Europe; their first date was in Paris. The couple were married on Dec. 29, 1962. Wayne was also involved in Quiz and Quill, band, and a member of Pi Kappa Phi (Country Club) fraternity during his time at Otterbein.

Wright graduated from dental school at Ohio State University in 1964. He joined the Air Force as a captain and he and Susie spent the years of 1964-1966 in California. After serving in the Dental Corps, he was honorably discharged and the couple moved to Vandalia. He practiced dentistry in Vandalia until his retirement in 2018.

Wayne is preceded in death by his mother, Irene Bennert Wright ’29; grandparents, Dawes and Olive Robertson Bennert; his aunt, Elsie Bennert Short, her husband, Robert and their son, David Short; his father, Maynard Wright; and his half-sister and -brother, Joanne and Roland Wright. He is survived by Susan Allaman Wright, his wife of 56 years; his children, Steven Keith Wright and Diana Klyde-Allaman; grandchildren, Isabella Rio Wright and Darrian Aguirre.