Ruth Wright, 91, dies: Ruth M. (Gonsolin) Wright, 91, of 25 Stonegate Drive in Canton passed away on Thursday (June 30, 2011) at 5:20 a.m. at Graham Hospital. She was born September 3, 1919, in Brownsdale, Minn., the daughter of Arthur C. and Mabel (Christison) Nelson. She first married Edward M. Gonsolin on April 13, 1941, in Brownsdale, Minn. And he died in the Philippines during WWII. She then married Charles E. Wright on December 25, 1945, in Tacoma, Wash. Surviving are Charlie, her husband of 65 years; a daughter, Patricia (Larry) Laysalle of Canton; two granddaughters, Kelly (Chris) Walljasper, both of Canton; and four great-grandchildren, Jesse and Zach Taylor and Danielle and Rachel Walljasper, all of Canton. Also preceding her in death were her parents and three brothers. Ruth was a 1941 graduate of Kahler Nursing School and a 1944 graduate of Mayo’s School for Physical Therapy, both in Rochester, Minn. She worked at Graham Hospital from 1963 to 1982 as the Department Head of Physical Therapy. She was also a graduate of the Charlie Wright School of Broadcasting and worked with her husband at WBYS Radio from 1954 to 1999. Ruth also served as a volunteer surgical hostess at Graham Hospital. Ruth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Canton, the Altrusa and Altruistic clubs, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Graham Hospital Service League Association. Services will be on Saturday 1t 2 p.m. at Murphy-Sedgwick Memorial Home in Canton, with visitation an hour prior to services. The Rev. Ken Churchill will officiate. Burial will follow at White Chapel Memory Gardens, Canton. Memorials may be made to the Physical Therapy Department at Graham Hospital or to the charity of the donor’s choice. To view Ruth’s memorial DVD or submit online condolences, you may go to www.sedgwickfunerall-homes.com.
