Edward "Gene" Eugene Wagner

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.