Gene C. Wright, 74, of Rush, Ky., after a lengthy illness departed the presence of his loving family to be eternally present with our Lord and Savior, passing Tuesday evening at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.

Mr. Wright was born Aug. 4, 1935, in Harmony Junction, Pa., son of the late John Edward and Sarah Caldwell Wright.

Gene was former president and co-owner of Kentucky Electric Supply in Ashland and the retired owner/operator of the Electrical Switchgear and Supply Corp.

Gene was a gentleman farmer and enjoyed horseback riding, camping and fishing at the beach.

He served our great nation in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Grassland United Methodist Church.

Gene leaves behind his loving wife of 49 years, Joan (Stitt) Wright; a son, Bruce Wright and his wife Cindy, of Rush; two daughters, Valerie Porter and her husband, Mark, of Flatwoods, Ky., and Pam Dales and her husband, Herb, of Newark, Ohio; brothers, John (Sandy) Wright of Florham Park, N.J., and Richard Wright of Dunnellon, Fla.; three granddaughters, Allison Porter, Shelby Wright and Lexi Wright; four grandsons, Corey Heaberlin, Jesse Porter, David Porter and Andrew Porter; and a soon to arrive fifth grandson, Gene Kyler Dales.

<B>WRIGHT</B> — A funeral service to honor Gene C. Wright, who died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the <B>Kilgore and Collier Funeral Home </B>on Panola Street, Catlettsburg, Ky. Pastor Gary Arrington will offer a personal message and eulogy. Final rest will be in Rose Hill Cemetery following military grave rites.The Wright family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, Ky. 41101.