Van Tennyson Wright, of Bloomfield, better known as “Ike,” passed, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 in Nashville, Indiana. He was 98 years of age.

Second of five children born to Odell and Margaret Wright, July 19, 1920, Ike spent almost his entire life as a contractor, building homes, commercial, and public buildings for over 70 years in Greene County and throughout southern Indiana.

Ike was a veteran of World War II, serving as a tail gunner on B-17s in the U.S. Army Air Force’s 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb Group, “The Bloody Hundredth.” On October 10, 1943 his bomber the “Terry ‘n’ Ten” was shot down over Munster, Germany. After parachuting to safety, he was captured and would remain a Prisoner of War until the liberation of the camp in April of 1945. Subsequent to his service he was active for many years with American Legion Post 196 in Bloomfield.

In leisure, he built replica eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture using the skills he developed with hand tools as a builder, he also spent countless hours wandering, hunting, fishing and painting the wooded hills, rivers and lakes of Indiana.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Rosemary Wright, his daughter Kay Wright-Kaiser, grandchildren Van, Heather, Joshua, Gerald, and Domonique, five great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

There will be a graveside service with military honors at the Grandview Cemetery in Bloomfield, Indiana at 11:00 am, on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Jenkins Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of the Brown County Health and Living Community for their care.

In lieu of flowers, and in acknowledgment of his love of Indiana’s natural places, donations may be made in the name of Van T. Wright to the Sycamore Land Trust, Sycamore Land Trust, PO Box 7801, Bloomington, IN 47407.