William Jerome Wright of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home on March 24, 2026 surrounded by family members. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri on October 11, 1929 to Hazel Lyons Wright and William Hayden Wright, Bill was a mechanical engineer graduate of the University of Missouri School of Mining in 1957 and served proudly in the U.S. Navy. Bill was an engineer with Black and Veatch until he retired in 1992.

Bill married Zella Rains Koons on Sept. 20, 1968, and moved to Independence, Missouri. They finished raising Bill’s two sons, Curt and Eric Wright, and Zella’s three sons, Greg, Randy, and Jeff Koons. Once all their boys were living on their own, Bill and Zella enjoyed many fun winters in Port Isabel, Texas where they made many life-long friends.

Bill and Zella loved to go dancing at senior dances around the city. It was typical for them to attend three or more dances a week. Bill studied new dances on VHS tapes and would teach them to Zella and they were considered excellent!

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife of 11 years and then married Zella Koons Wright for 44 years before she passed. He was fortunate in his later years, thanks to still attending senior dances frequently, to meet Martha Paul. They spent their final years dancing and enjoying time together. Martha’s two sons, Dennis and Alan Paul, and daughter, Nikki Peterson, became an important part of Bill’s life until the end.

Bill also was preceded in death by his two sons, Curt and Eric, and grandson Joshua. He leaves behind his three step-sons, Greg, Randy, and Jeff Koons and their spouses, 10 grandchildren (Bryan, Scott, Shelley, Brett, Jeff, Brandon, Will, Belinda, and Andy) and 15 great-grandchildren (Crosby, Ellsyn, Reed, Brady, Dylan, Quinn, Alexi, Matthew, Elizabeth, Avah, Killian, Lila, Abby, Hogan and Harrison), who will all miss him.

At Bill’s request, a private Memorial and Graveside Service for family will be held on Saturday, April 25th. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bill’s honor to the Disabled American Veterans or a charity of the donor’s choice.