Harold William Wright II

Harold William Wright II, affectionately known as Joe, Joey, Bill, Orv, and Orville, passed away peacefully at home on September 18, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on July 18, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the cherished son of the late Elizabeth Woolfolk Wright and Harold William Wright I.

After graduating in 1967 from Evanston Township High School, where he proudly served as captain of the gymnastics team, Orv pursued higher education at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. There, he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in engineering and math. During his time at college, Orv was a proud PIKE (member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity). At the fraternity house, he held the positions of president, treasurer, and partier extraordinaire, and made many dear, lifelong friends.

Orv's professional journey began in 1972 when he joined Everspray, designing fire prevention sprinkler systems.

After college, his most cherished affiliation was with Club Bimbo, a gathering of both neighborhood friends and new buddies. Orv's presence in the group reflected his ability to forge meaningful relationships and cultivate a community of deep, enduring camaraderie. The friendships made at Club Bimbo were among his closest.

Despite his success at work, he realized he wanted to work with his hands, not sit behind a desk. This led him to resign and travel across the country, eventually finding his home in Washington State.

In 1986, surrounded by his family and friends, including his first friends, Jim and Pat, and many friends from college and Club Bimbo, Orv married Merrilee Komboukos at his childhood home in Evanston, Illinois. Their shared life was filled with love, laughter, and a deep, lasting commitment to one another.

When he settled in Skagit Valley, he became a handyman, and through his friends at the T&D Tavern, began repairing the homes of the elderly. He made sure the amounts owed to him were minimal as most of his clients were retired or on fixed incomes. Eventually, he obtained a license to frame houses with his best friend, Jerry McCray. They built houses all over Skagit Valley and traveled to Oak Harbor to frame houses. Another passion of his working life was delivering Meals on Wheels through the Mount Vernon Senior Center, and later the Sedro-Woolley Senior Center, a position he held for 25 years.

During this time, he played card games at the T&D Tavern, eventually joining their pool league. He ended up living in Clear Lake, where he played in the horseshoe and dart leagues for Evelyn's Tavern.

Orv is survived by his ex-wife, Merrilee Komboukos; his older sister, Beverly Christian "Chris" Young (Wayne), along with their seven children and seventeen grandchildren; his younger sister, Katherine Randolph "Randy" Lynn (James); his nephew, Christian Randolph Lynn (Julia); and his great-niece, Gianna Katherine Lynn.

Orv's journey through life was marked by a profound sense of loyalty and a terrific sense of humor. He was a man who would do anything to help his family and friends. Orv's legacy is one of kindness, loyalty, and humor. His sense of humor brightened the lives of all who knew him, and his loyalty was a testament to the strength of his character. He was a good man, admired and loved by many, and he will be profoundly missed.

A reception will be held in Orv’s honor at Evelyn's Tavern at 1:00 p.m. on October 24, 2026.

Share your memories of Orv and sign the online guest register.