Beverly Mae Wright, nee – Tilp, died on Wednesday night, January 17, 2024. She was born at home on August 19, 1928, in Edgewood, Iowa, to Frank Arthur and Edna Mae Tilp. 

From an early age, Bev was full of mischief and always curious about what was next. When the family moved from Edgewood to Marion Iowa, she graduated one year early, attended Coe College briefly, while working at McGladrey, Hansen & Dunne and for Western Union. But the wanderlust encouraged by reading too many Zane Grey books, and she moved west to Tucson, Arizona and did clerical work for an airplane manufacturer. Beverly met and married the love of her life, Robert ‘Fred’ Wright, Jr., a dashing Air Force pilot.  Because Fred was in the Air Force, they lived a number of places, including Louisiana, El Paso, Texas, Roswell, New Mexico, Riverside California, London (High Wycombe) England, Sacramento, California, Colorado Springs, CO, Otis Air Force Base (Cape Cod), and finally, when Fred ‘retired,’ Monte Vista, where Beverly became a pastor’s wife at Calvary Baptist Church instead. Her much-loved sister, Carol Ellen Wagenfield survives her. Beverly and Fred had 3 children: Tom and daughter-in-law Lorrie, Frank, and Ellen (husband David), and her second ‘daughter’ Kim Holcomb (Kimothy), 4 grandchildren –Brian Shactman (wife Katie), Sean Wright, Leilah Wright (husband Reval), Colin Wright, and 4 great grandchildren – Kaelen, Braeden, Alex and Will.

During Fred’s military service, Beverly single-handedly raised their children and made a home wherever Fred was stationed. In addition, throughout their marriage, she was a devoted Sunday School and Training Union teacher in the various churches they belonged to during their frequent moves, and a well-loved presence at Calvary Baptist. Beverly touched so many – youth that were made to feel at home at the parsonage, women she taught in various Bible Studies, and friends and neighbors. She also worked potato harvests in the San Luis Valley and at the local Sale Barn. Beverly also loved geology and rock hunting (which she passed down three generations to her granddaughter and great-grandchildren), reading, poetry, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and gospel music and she valued a good sense of humor. And she was crazy about her dogs!

Beverly was a courageous woman – facing down three different cancers, various joint replacements, motherhood, the many moves and the loss of her husband. That courage stood her well in her final illness. She faced all of her trials with humor, grace and a continuing determination to see “what was next.” For most of her life, she never met a stranger. 

She loved the quote by Colin Powell: “Always show more kindness than seems necessary because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know.” Although her final illness changed things, she continued to devote herself to her faith, her family, and her friends. We are extremely grateful to the women from Seniors Helping Seniors who helped make it possible to stay in her home until the end, and to the countless friends and family who have not only touched her life, but also helped ease our sorrow at losing her. Her favorite verse was by her chair:

“And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling and who will bring you into His glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy; all glory to Him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, power, and authority belong to Him, in the beginning, now and forevermore.” Jude 24-25

A memorial service will be held at First Southern Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, CO on March 2, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the ASPCA, or the Alzheimer’s Association.