Edward Eugene "Gene" Wagner May 9, 2025
Edward E. “Gene” Wagner went home to be with the Lord on May 9, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 90.
He was born August 6, 1934, in Culpeper, VA, to the late Kermit, Sr. and Lavinia G. Wagner. He graduated from Culpeper County High School and attended the University of Virginia.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia S. Wagner; a daughter, Melissa “Missy” Moubray; a brother, Kermit Wagner, Jr.: and in-laws Robert and Octavia Suddith.
He is survived by a daughter, Pamela W. Carpenter; grandchildren Colleen McAvoy, Charles Carpenter (Mary), Melissa Goodman (Bryan), and Sarah Orr (Michael); great-grandchildren Emily, James, and John McAvoy, Courtney Carpenter, and Lucy Ann Orr; a sister, Eva “Betty” Smith; a brother, James Wagner; son-in-law, Jeff Moubray; special friend, Pat Davis; and many nieces and nephews.
Since his youth, Gene was a hard worker. One might describe him as “a jack of all trades”. He was an entrepreneur, having owned and operated The Inkwell, an office supply store; Gene Wagner Chevrolet; and along with his buddy, Randolph Miller, M and W Services. For many years, he sold and installed school equipment for Flowers School Equipment Company.
Gene was well known and very active in the community. He was a longtime member of the Orange Lion’s Club, where he held numerous leadership positions. He wrote, directed, and performed annually in their Variety Shows, as well as serving as state director for their Bland Music Contests. He was a past board member of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Mental Health Association and the American Red Cross. He was on the Orange County Election Board, where he served as a precinct chief. In 1968, he received the Orange County Jaycees’ “Man of the Year” award.
Gene was an avid golfer. He was past president of the Woodberry Forest Golf Club. Nobody knew the greens at Woodberry like Gene! He also loved UVA athletics, especially football. He was a season ticket holder for many years, enough that he had developed relationships with several of the ushers in his area. Gene had a love of music, and used his beautiful tenor voice to perform as a soloist, duets and trios with his daughters and others, and was a member of several quartets. He was also a member of the famous (or infamous) “Country Blasters”. Above all else, Gene was a man of great faith. He was a member of Orange Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, on numerous committees, music director for Vacation Bible School, and was a member of the Chancel Choir, where he performed for 36 consecutive years in the annual Singing Christmas Tree. His strength and faith were on full display as he dealt with his diagnosis and battled his disease. He fought to the very end, and as it says in 2 Timothy 4:7 – he has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he has kept the faith. Because of a lifetime of faith, he has now received his reward – an eternal life in the presence of the God he served.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 6:00PM-8:00PM at Orange Baptist Church. A Memorial service will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 11:00AM at Orange Baptist Church, with a reception to follow. Interment will be private.
The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the staffs of the UVA Medical Center and the Emily Couric Cancer Center for their care and support. We also wish to express a special thanks to Randolph and Corky Miller and Travers Thomas for their unwavering commitment to caring for Gene in his final months of life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orange Baptist Church, P.O. Box 167, Orange, VA 22960.
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