Iola L. Wright, 76, of Hutchinson, Kan., was born April 15, 1936, in Summit, Okla. She was the daughter of Luther and Oetta Nelson Crawford. Iola graduated from Hutchinson High School. She worked for Pittsburg Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kan., and Hutchinson Community Junior College for many years. After retiring from Hutch Juco, she worked at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility from February 1986 until she retired in June 1996.

She is survived by: sons, Arthur Thomas of Hutchinson, Shannon Thomas of McPherson, Ollie Hall of Lawrence, and Clifford Thomas of Parsons; sisters, Ann Robinson of Great Bend, Mildred Harness, and Annette Crawford of Hutchinson; brothers, Luther and Keith Crawford of Hutchinson; and grandchildren, Julia and Alex Hall of Lawrence, Roshaun Thomas of Hutchinson.

Iola was preceded in death by two sisters, Gwendolyn Benbrook and Alberta Holder, and four brothers, Marion, Clifford, Carl, and Phillip Crawford.

The casket will remain closed. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with the Rev. JoAnne Dixon-Lewis officiating. Friends and family may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, with family to receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park. A funeral dinner will be served at the Foundation of Life Ministry, 134 E. Sherman, following the burial. Memorials may be made to St. John CME Church, Cancer Council of Reno County, or to American Diabetes Association, all in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson KS 67501.