James Eugene Wright

James Eugene Rabbit Wright, 71, of Manheim, died peacefully on Friday, January 28, 2011 at Hospice Of Lancaster County; following a six-month courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Lime Rock, he was the son of the late Noah A. and Bernice Reece Wright. Rabbit retired from the Manheim Auto Auction where he was the supervisor of the maintenance department for 18 years, previously he was a sales representative for Saylor Foods in Reading, and was employed by Stief Concrete Work Inc; New Holland for 16 years. He served in the U.S. Army, and was of the Lutheran Faith. Rabbit was a 1958 graduate of Manheim Central High School; where he played on the high school football team. It was during Rabbits military service when he was in the Army Reserves at Indiantown Gap that he started his softball career in 1965. After playing in the service he played with the following teams: the Old Colony Inn at Stump Field, Zion Lutheran Red Rose Team, Manheim, and the Old Timers Manheim Community League. Rabbit was involved in coaching girls softball for over 46 years. He coached the DeLites Girls Softball Team Lancaster, which was nationally ranked as one of the top five teams in the country, following that he had the Rabbits Athletic Club Lancaster for 12 years; he was an assistant softball coach for Elizabethtown College, Millersville University, and Lebanon Valley College. Rabbit was well known throughout the Mid Atlantic States as a private softball coach specializing in softball pitching. Students and players sought him out for private coaching and instruction. He helped the Manheim Central Girls Softball team for many years. Throughout all of his life Rabbit supported all of the sports teams and players in the Manheim area. Rabbits passion in life was for softball and fishing. He was an avid enthusiastic fisherman where he enjoyed fishing of all types from small streams to salt water. One of his favorite fishing places was the Frisco Pier at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. He loved to help teach young and old alike the techniques of catching fish wherever he went. For many years Rabbit played Santa Clause at many events for the Manheim Community.

Surviving are three sisters: Utha V. Webb, Yvonne Clingenpeel Kreider wife of Herman Kreider all of Manheim, Agatha Aggie Eshleman of Akron, a brother, Lance E. husband of Pat Wright of Glide Oregon, nephews: Tracy, Dale, Randy, niece: Luann, great nieces: Tiffany, Elizabeth, Emily, Olissa,great nephews: Todd, Marshall, Jeremy, Brian, Chris, Brandon, Samand numerous great great nieces, great great nephews, and cousins. Preceding him in death are two nieces: Colleen Clingenpeel Bechtel, Linda Clingenpeel Bowers, and a nephew, Kevin M. Webb.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Rabbits Celebration of Life and Remembrance Service at the Buch Funeral Home 21 Market Square Manheim, on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 1:00 PM. Interment is in Manheim Fairview Cemetery, Penn Township. There will be a viewing at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with additional viewing time on Saturday from 12:00 noon until the time of the service.

Please omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in Rabbits memory to the Rabbit Wright Softball Trust Fund (To Benefit Manheim Area Girls Softball Programs) C/O Fulton Bank (Manheim Branch) One Market Square, Manheim, PA 17545. The Buch Funeral Home Manheim is in charge of arrangements.