Thomas Daniel Wright, 74, of Paducah died Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at his home.

A native of Water Valley, Miss., Dan was born on August 8, 1938, to the late Weston and Irene Stewart Wright. He retired from the Illinois Central Railroad as a general foreman, but had held many jobs within the organization including Round House Foreman and teaching student engineers. He volunteered at local schools, especially when his children were school age, educating children about the importance of the railroad system. He was awarded Parent-Teacher Association Life Membership, the highest award given by the Tennessee PTA. He was a longtime member of the Church of Nazarene where he loved teaching Adult and Young Married Sunday School classes. He also served in the U.S. Army and National Guard, was a former Boy Scout leader and Kentucky Colonel.

Dan is survived by his wife, Brenda Rankin Wright; five children, Krystal Lepeard Stevens and husband Jeremy, Kari Wright and fiance’ Ben Hughes, all of Paducah, Jeff Dees and wife Rene of Metropolis, Ill., Lorri Phillips and husband David of Water Valley, Miss., and Randy Wright and wife Cindy of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren, Brandon Wright, Wes and Mary Wright, Matthew Phillips, Taylor and MeKenzie Lepeard and Ashley Dees; two brothers, John Wright and wife Margaret of Southaven, Miss., and Dean Wright and wife Barbara of Hernando, Miss.; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were a brother, Gearrell Wright, and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2013, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with the Revs. Russ Frazier, Dean Wright and Dave Woosley officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Kenton Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday evening, February 15, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Contributions may be made to Church of Nazarene, 2626 Adams St., Paducah, KY 42001 or Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY 42002-7100. You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.milnerandorr.com.