Gwendolyn Ila Wright, age 85, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on July 3, 2025.  Her last years were increasingly difficult due to multiple sclerosis (MS), the symptoms of which began at least 35 years earlier.  With faith, God-given determination and grace, Gwen lived an active life of service and prayer even with the gradually increasing limitations of MS.

Gwen was born June 1, 1940, to Morton and Hazel James in Onawa, Iowa but moved to Brooklyn, Iowa in time to begin kindergarten.  Because of another family move she attended her last year of high school in Montezuma, Iowa.  Loving sports, Gwen pursued a BS degree in physical education at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado.  From there she went to Moab, Utah and later to Lompoc, California to teach physical education.  During those years of teaching, God placed in her heart a strong concern for the salvation of children resulting in her attending Multnomah School of the Bible for a year.  Gwen then served as a Child Evangelism Fellowship director in Monterey County, California.

In 1977 Gwen was married to Robert Wright and continued to live in California.  They relocated to DuPage County in 2003 to be near Gwen's family, given her health needs.   Robert passed away in 2013 and Gwen continued to live on her own in a handicap-friendly apartment with caregivers.  By 2020, Gwen needed assistance that could be better provided in a care facility. In September she moved into the DuPage Care Center where she lived until she passed away.  During the years Gwen and Robert lived in Illinois, much aid was provided by her family and Grace Church of DuPage where she was lovingly welcomed and cared for as part of the church family.

She greatly appreciated opportunities to teach children in the church and even continued to do so from her wheelchair when she could no longer walk independently.  She had no biological children but many spiritual children from Good News Clubs and Sunday School classes she taught.  She can look forward to meeting them again in heaven because they also placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Gwen loved her Lord, the Scriptures, her family, her church, and children.

Gwendolyn is survived by her older sister Marcelyn (Everett) Peterson and youngest sister Roselyn (Darrel) Shaver.  In addition, she has nine nieces and nephews, 38 great nephews and nieces, and six great-great nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her sister, Carolyn (James) Orme, and a great-nephew, Judah Christenson.

A service remembering her will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Grace Church of DuPage, 27W344 Galusha Ave, Warrenville, IL 60555.  Visitation will take place at the church during the hour preceding the service. Interment will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Child Evangelism Fellowship or Grace Church of DuPage .