Obituaries in Shreveport, LA | Shreveport Times (2024)

Kenneth “Ken” Preston Wright died peacefully at home from complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Shreveport, LA, on July 28, 2024, surrounded by family. He faced his illness with strength and grace and educated himself and others throughout his 4-year journey since diagnosis.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 31 at Osborn Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 1 at St. Mark’s Cathedral, 908 Rutherford Street, Shreveport, LA, a reception will follow in the parlor. Officiating the service will be Father Thomas Nsubuga. A private burial service will be held for family.

Ken was born in Jena, Louisiana in 1948 to the marriage of Dallas Edwin Wright and Glynn Miles Wright. He grew up in Jena until attending Louisiana Tech University in 1966, and LSU Law School in 1971. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Louisiana Tech in 1970 with a B.A. in Business Administration. He graduated from LSU Law School in 1974, then moved to Shreveport after graduation to practice law with the firm of Hargrove, Guyton, Ramey and Barlow. He left there in 1982 to join a couple of his classmates in the newly formed law firm of Weems, Abney and Wright. Ken’s practice evolved into mostly a real estate practice, and in 1984 Ken formed Louisiana Title Company for the law firm. He managed Louisiana Title until 1992, when he bought the company from the law firm and together with John Pou merged it with Bill Peatross and Caddo Abstract & Title Company to form United Title of Louisiana, Inc. Ken and his co-owners in United Title sold it to a subsidiary of Iberia Bank in 2007. Ken continued to work for United Title until 2009 when he retired for the first time. After a couple of years of retirement, a friend of his in Gretna, LA, asked him to work out of his home and set up a commercial title department for Bayou Title, Inc. Ken enjoyed doing this until his second retirement in 2019. Ken and Linda bought a condo as a second home in Keystone in 1998 and continued to spend a lot of time there until his death, enjoying skiing and being close to his daughter Kendal and three of his grandchildren, who lived nearby. In 2011, Ken and Linda moved from Shreveport to Jupiter, FL, so that they could also be close to their other daughter, Allyson and his five other grandchildren. Ken and Linda kept their house in Shreveport, and continued to visit often, enjoying seeing their many long-time friends there.

Ken was predeceased by his parents and his older brother, Edwin Miles Wright. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda Sentell Wright, the greatest blessing of his life whom he loved dearly; his daughter Allyson Wright Lazarus (Brian) of Jupiter, FL, and their 5 children, Kylie, Taylor, Ellie Farris (Wesley), Darius and Luke; his daughter, Kendal Wright Vaille (Troy) of Dillon, CO, and their 3 children, Jeremiah, Lexi (and her fiancée Corey Johnson) and Miles. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Doris Evans Wright and two nephews, Edwin Wright and Chris Wright.

Ken had a wonderful life, and often said that he was the luckiest guy he knew. He had a happy childhood in Jena and had many lifelong friends from there. At Louisiana Tech, he served as President of his Social Fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, his Business Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and his Leadership Fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa. At LSU Law School, Ken served as President of the Student Bar Association.

Ken had many interesting jobs throughout his life, beginning with his first paying job as a pinsetter in the local bowling alley while in high school. In high school, college and law school, he worked fixing flats and washing and changing oil in cars at his uncle’s service station; at a men’s clothing store; as a roughneck and as a roustabout in the oil fields of central Louisiana; as an abstractor for a law firm in Baton Rouge and serving with the Louisiana National Guard in Jena and Bossier City. While practicing law, Ken also worked as a contractor for Prodigy Services in the early days of the internet, building and maintaining Prodigy’s web site on skiing and snowboarding, as well as a legal web site and maintaining Prodigy’s legal bulletin board. At age 35, Ken discovered snow skiing and fell in love with it. He enjoyed many trips to different ski areas all across the country and he passed on his love of skiing and travel to his children and grandchildren. One of his favorite part time jobs was as a ski instructor for 13 seasons for Keystone Resort in Colorado. He had many good times on his annual guys’ ski trips with Perry Pringle, Tom McNeely and Charlie Powers in ski areas in the US, Canada and Europe. He was a former member of The Rotary Club of Shreveport and was a Paul Harris Fellow. In 2003-2004 Ken served as King X for the Krewe of Justinian and developed many life-long relationships that he treasured.

Ken dearly loved his wife Linda, his daughters, his eight grandchildren, skiing and travel. He was fortunate to have many years to enjoy all of these and to have visited all 50 states and multiple countries in Europe. Ken and Linda were lucky to have been able to travel with each of their grandchildren and make memories for a lifetime. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Ken and Linda would like to especially thank Dr. Matthew Koslow at National Jewish Health in Denver for his many years of excellent care, compassion and knowledge of IPF. Not only did he help extensively with medical treatment, but also became a good friend and was a vital aspect of Ken’s support system since his diagnosis.

The family suggests that memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Amedisys Hospice or the charity of your choice.