4/29/1931 - 1/26/2022
John William Bright, age 90, of Portland passed away Wednesday January
26, 2022 at Reid Hospital in Richmond. John was born in Winchester on April
29, 1931 the son of John Paul and Anna Jane (Day) Bright. He was married on
October 24, 1951 to Barbara Gaynell Chew and she passed away on October 4,
2020. John served in the US Air force during the Korean Conflict. He was a
1949 Portland High School graduate, attended Butler University and graduated
from Ball State University. John was a teacher and a coach having taught in
Cambridge City, Selma and Albany. He was also principal at Randolph
Southern. He is a member of Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, 1949 Indiana
All Star Team, American Legion Post 211 and Church of the Brethren in
Portland.
Surviving are one son Bill Bright of Fresno, California,
three daughters Diana Jobe (husband Joe) of Portland, Bonnie Sabo (husband
Mike) of Novi, Michigan and Rebecca Thornburg (husband Steve) of Portland,
one brother Doug Bright (wife Nancy) of Jacksonville, Florida, one sister
Beth Korahais (husband Jimmy) of Jacksonville, Florida, Eight grandchildren
and Nine great grandchildren.
Private family services will be held in
the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin McClung presiding. Burial
will be in the Salamonia Cemetery with military graveside honors. Memorials
can be made to the Jay County Community Center or American Legion Post 211.
Baird-Freeman Funeral Home; January 27, 2022
Contributed
by Jim Cox
Buried in Salamonia Cemetery