LTC Edgar (Ed) Wright III, U.S. Army retired, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA, with his son by his side.

Friends of Ed and the Wright family are invited to a memorial gathering from 2-4 pm on Friday, March 21, at the Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg in Virginia. Memorial service and inurnment will take place at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY at a later date.

Ed was born on January 3, 1942, in Napa, CA, to Edgar Wright Jr. and Marjorie Hetland Wright. As the first-born child of a West Point graduate, the values and principles of the U.S. Military Academy were instilled in him from an early age. He attended schools across the U.S. and in France before entering West Point, where he graduated as a second lieutenant of field artillery in 1966.

Upon graduation, Ed's military career began as a Battery Officer in the 2/21 Field Artillery in Hawaii, where he also commanded the Honor Guard for Headquarters, U.S. Army Pacific. He then served three tours in Vietnam, where he held several positions including as an advisor to South Vietnamese troops in the field and as Battery Commander in Pleiku. His leadership continued through multiple assignments, including as an assistant professor of military science at The Citadel, commanding field artillery units in Korea, and serving as an advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. In Beirut, Ed also met and married the love of his life, Katia, shortly before returning to the US and concluding his military career at the Pentagon.

Ed's military service earned him numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Joint Service Commendation Medal. After 23 years of dedicated service, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989.

After retiring from the Army, Ed worked in international business development at Raytheon and later as a senior analyst supporting the Missile Defense Agency. A life-long learner, he attended various military and academic institutions, including the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College and the University of Texas, where he earned a master's degree in Middle East Area Studies.

In retirement, Ed remained dedicated to service, mentoring West Point cadets, taking on leadership roles in his condo association, serving as president of his local Gourmet club, and devoting himself to his family. He was a great storyteller, a skilled cook, a history buff, a DVD enthusiast, a loyal friend, and a devoted father. He will always be remembered by his ability to throw an over-the-top formal dinner party or to simply have people over for small snacks, drinks, and good conversation. His enthusiasm for West Point and the Class of '66 never wavered – Go Army!

Ed leaves behind a legacy of exceptional service along with a community of family and friends who loved him deeply. He is survived by his son, Andrew and wife Lauren; his brother, Jim and family; and his lifelong friend and former spouse, Katia and her family.

Ed has returned home to eternal peace, welcomed with joy.