Mrs. Diane Wright, Bargersville, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, May 16, 2023. She was 80 years old. Diane was born January 23, 1943 in Indianapolis, Indiana, a daughter of the late William Crawford and Sally Parsons Burghardt.
Diane was reared in Beech Grove and attended Beech Grove High School. Diane's dad was a bus driver and in her younger years, enjoyed riding with him, particularly on his route between Indianapolis and Louisville.
She married Bill Wright in 1966 and they raised three children, Dean, Kimberly and Kellie. Diane set up shop as a hairdresser in the basement of their home in Bargersville, IN, and also worked part-time in sales at the Lazarus (later Macy's) Department Store at the nearby Greenwood Park Mall. With taking care of her children, her business and all the family's friends, their home was a hive of activity and fun.
Diane loved to travel and would often take her family on vacations along with her sister-in-law, Annie. Her biggest adventure was a sixty-one day, 11,800-mile, round-trip drive to Alaska and back with her husband Bill, after he retired from GM/Allison. She loved the scenery and wildlife. She, Bill and Kellie also went on a pilgrimage to Israel in 1995. Through the years, she and Bill managed to travel to every state In the U.S., with the exception of Rhode Island!
Although she couldn't swim, Diane loved the water, often going fishing with Bill. She even went white-water rafting and snorkeling, and was on Lake Michigan during a small-craft warning. She was a big car-racing fan, often attending the Indy 500, and avidly watching NASCAR races (her favorite driver, until he retired, was Matt Kenseth).
Despite all her adventures, Diane's favorite place was her back porch, where she could sip her coffee, look out over the surrounding farmland, and wait for hummingbirds to visit the feeders. She loved to plant flowers around the house and tend to them.
Diane enjoyed visiting with her three children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Dean Drury, her son, and his wife, Dawn, live in Greenwood. They have three adult children: Ryan Drury and his wife, Natalie, who live in Fishers, IN, with their children, Aiden and Avery; Angela Aragon, who lives in Greenwood with her son, Martin; and Jason Drury and his wife, Jessica, who live in Greenwood. Diane's oldest daughter, Kimberly Lasley, lives with her husband, Carl, in Bloomington, IN. Her youngest daughter, Kellie Rice, lives in Indialantic, FL, with her husband, Brian, and their son, Ethan.
Diane will be sadly missed by all of her family and many, many friends. She was very loving, strong and positive, and always said, "Don't worry until there is something to worry about."
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm, Monday, May 22, 2023 with Pastor Brian Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Those serving as pallbearers are Ryan Drury, grandson; Jason Drury, grandson; Brian Rice, son-in-law; Ethan Rice, grandson; Carl Lasley, son-in-law; Jeff Campbell, family friend and honorary pallbearers, Rey Riojas nephew-in-law and Dean Drury, son.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until the time of the service Monday at the funeral home.
For those choosing to make a memorial contribution in Diane's memory, the family has suggested those be offered to Fair Haven Christian Church; 1476 W. 300 S., Franklin, IN 46131. (www.fairhavencc.org)