Ruth Helen O'Bryan Wright

Ruth Helen O’Bryan Wright, 93, of Village of Golf, Florida, entered eternal life on November 5, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Ruth, or “RowRow” as she was called by her grandchildren, was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, on September 15, 1933, to Florence Ellen (“Helen”) Medley O’Bryan and William Martin (“Bill”) O’Bryan, joining sisters Mary Edna Hicks and Nell Wathen (“Sissy”) Bale. Ruth met her future husband, Patrick Eugene (“Glenn”) Wright, when two Catholic parishes and their grade schools combined. The family lore was that he was smitten from the first, but she had a few adventures in mind before she settled down. After graduating from St. Francis Academy in 1951, she attended St. Mary of the Woods College before convincing her childhood friend, Ruth Steele Reed, that they should spend a year “studying” and traveling through Europe before finishing their education. The experience opened her heart to the arts, an appreciation she supported her entire life and passed on to her children and grandchildren. Following this adventure, she joined Glenn at St. Louis University, graduating in 1955. They married the following November and welcomed the first of four children the following September.

Ruth was preceded in death by Glenn, her parents, and sisters. She is survived by her children: Patrick “Pat” (Beverly) Wright, Jr. of Greensboro, NC; Helen (John) Cornell of Delray Beach, FL; John (Kathy) Wright of Owensboro, KY; and William “Bill” (Shannon) Wright of Scottsdale, AZ; her sister-in-law, Judy Wright of Owensboro, KY; dear friend, MaryJane “MJ” Fredrickson of Village of Golf, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

As much as Ruth cherished her family and abundant adventures with Glenn, her greatest joy was watching her grandchildren grow and find their own passions. Her joy grew as those grandchildren fell in love and began their own families. Her grandchildren are James “Jay” Wright and Sarah Wright-Weaver of Greensboro, NC; John “Jack” (Lauren) Cornell of Quincy, IL; Patrick (Erin Boniface) Cornell of Portland, OR; Helen (Jerrad) Anderson of Newburgh, IN; Katie (Lloyd) Harris of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; John Wright, Jr. (fiancee Becca Scott) of St. Louis, MO; Lucy (Gabe) McFarland of Owensboro, KY; Isabelle Wright of Owensboro, KY; Ellen (Joe) MacEwan and William “Will” (Nikki) Wright, Jr. of Scottsdale, AZ. Eventually, 17 great-grandchildren joined the family, including Liliana Weaver, Violet Weaver, Troy Cornell, Elizabeth Cornell, Cecilia (“Ceci”) Cornell, Betty Cornell, Mary Cornell, James (“JJ”) Fenwick Jr., Michael Fenwick, Paige Jackson, Ryan Jackson, Liam Harris, Levi Harris, Harper McFarland, Nora MacEwan and Rowan MacEwan; and step great-grandson Elijah Anderson.

Her grandchildren describe her best. They say that she was the best example of what it means to love, lead, and live passionately and authentically. She embodied love, modeled courage, and had a vision for what she wanted to achieve. She was the epitome of a matriarch and a vibrant, loving woman. She was an independent spirit with a sharp sense of humor, who enlivened any room she entered. She was a strong woman who embraced many different, interesting lives. She was a woman of poise and quiet confidence with a soft spot for animals. She showed the true meaning of unconditional love and unwavering support by always being there for performances, competitions, milestones, and achievements. She celebrated successes and made her grandchildren feel cherished every step of the way. She was resilient, with compassion for others and a commitment to helping them, rooted in her strong Catholic faith.

“Row Row was a rare soul: unapologetically tough, incredibly generous, and deeply loving. She was the anchor of our family, teaching us by example how to love deeply and unconditionally, and showing us the importance of extending a helping hand to those in need. But alongside her immense generosity, she gave us the gift of backbone. She taught us how to stand up for ourselves, know our worth, and never let anyone walk all over us. She was a beautiful blend of a soft heart and a strong spirit, and the powerful lessons she left behind will guide our family for generations to come. We love you, Row Row, and we will carry your strength with us every single day.”

Special thanks are extended to Barbara Gonzalez and Dawn Elder, who brought great joy and quality to Ruth’s life, and her amazing caregivers, whom she loved like family: Elaine Peddie, Vivette “Betty” Peddie, Yvonne Gregg, Naomi Cain, and Sheniece Thompson. The family is deeply grateful for the gentle, thorough care provided to Ruth.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Owensboro, KY, with burial following in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and concluding with prayers at 6:00 p.m. at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Daniel Pitino Shelter, 501 Walnut St, Owensboro, KY 42301, Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, 2731 W 2nd St, Owensboro, KY 42301, or Owensboro Humane Society, 3101 W 2nd St, Owensboro, KY 42301.

Memories and messages of condolence for the family of Ruth Helen O’Bryan Wright may be shared at www.glennfuneralhome.com