Dr. Philip D. Wright passed on June 19,, 2025, at his home in Lee’s Summit, MO.

Dr. Philip Dwain Wright was born to John and Lillian Wright on January 11th, 1959 in Macon, MO. He attended Northwest Missouri State University where he achieved his Specialist in Education degree, later receiving his Doctorate of Education from Saint Louis University in 2003. He went on to teach speech and debate, coach baseball and football, and was a superintendent for 17 years in the Trenton, Sedalia, Liberty, and Crestridge districts where his passion for sports and children’s education flourished. Phil retired in 2011. He worked at ETS, an online educational testing service, as a Chief Scoring Specialist where he evaluated prospective teachers and administrators in pursuit of their degree, continuing to invest in the future generation of educators. 

Phil was a sports enthusiast, if you knew him, you knew he had an opinion on any trade or injury, and especially enjoyed playing golf, cooking, and mowing the lawn, but his greatest joy was being a father figure to many. Phil loved his daughters Anna and Emma and their children Jack and August. He was a chosen father to Bruce Snodgrass and David Allen and their families. He was also a stepfather to his wife, Angie’s, children: Paige, Hannah, Jamie, and Kyle and father-in-law to their spouses and “Grandpa” to the six grandchildren. 

One of his greatest joys was spending precious moments with his grandkids creating memories. He was very proud when they would run past Angie and ask, “where’s Grandpa?!”. He taught them about knuckle sandwiches and how he “got your nose”. They lit up when he would hide and ask loudly “where’s my girl?”. 

Phil looked forward to the athletic games, graduations, weddings, big life events, and witnessing the successes and being a part of the celebrations for his family and friends and their kids and grandkids. He was always planning for the next one. Phil was a constant source of advice and insight. 

He loved the lifelong relationships that he built with many of his teaching and administrative colleagues. Former students, the “Liberty boys”, whom he could “get going” through group texts all kept in touch with their successes and struggles. More recently working with the Blue Springs School District Maintenance Department, he got a laugh in the bull pen with the guys during lunch. 

Phil will be fondly remembered as the man with a plan (Plan A, B, and C) and a zest for life! If you were fortunate enough to receive one of his “Wright’s Rules”, know that you held a special place in his heart. 

Phil is preceded in death by his father John Dwain Wright and mother Lillian Pauline Wright and brother-in-law Paul Zamzow.

Phil is survived by his loving wife Angie. Brother Jay and Sister Patricia. Daughters Emma (grandson Jack), Anna (grandson August), Bruce and Jodi Snodgrass, their children Tate, Tanner, Tessa and Taryn Snodgrass, David Allen and son Jaidin Allen, Stepchildren Paige (Trey) Swager, adoring granddaughters Iris and Briar, Hannah (PJ) Stark, loving grandchildren Drew, Xander, Jackson and Benjamin, and Jamie Barrett and Kyle Barrett. 

Service will be held Friday July 11th at 10am followed by a Celebration of Life at Woods Chapel United Methodist Church 4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the following charities he was actively supporting: Harvesters, Operation Barbeque Relief, Answering the Call, or Feed America.