Lt. Col. Ray Herbert Wagner

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and decorated World War II veteran passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, in Wenatchee. Ray Herbert Wagner was born Feb. 17, 1922, in Sioux City, Iowa to Ray Wagner and Maude Marie Sutherland. He married his high school sweetheart Shirley Jean Tucker on Jan. 15, 1943, and enlisted in the Army the same month as a 2nd Lieutenant. As a member of the 382nd regiment of the 96th Infantry Division (the "Deadeye" Division of World War II), he participated in some of the most critical battles of the Pacific front, including the battles at Leyte and Okinawa. The 96th received the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for its achievements on Okinawa. Ray received the Silver Star for "gallantry in action against the enemy on Okinawa Island on 12 May 1945." He served in the Korean War and was posted around the world, including tours in Greece, Germany, Honolulu, and Washington, D.C. He received two bronze stars and two purple hearts during his 20-year career. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on July 1, 2008.

He retired in 1963 and settled in Moses Lake. He was preceded in death by his sisters Florence Najorka and Edith Blaine and his son Charles Wagner who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife Shirley; his brother Keith Wagner and wife Joyce of Gold Hill, Ore.; his daughters Barbara Garbe and husband Kerry of Moses Lake and Patrice Shay and husband Michael of Wenatchee; his daughter-in-law Melissa Swan Wagner of Deer Park; his grandchildren Scott Wagner, Danielle Garbe, Kara Garbe, B.J. Garbe and his wife Amy, Angela Paulsen, Joshua Paulsen, Trevor Shay, and Justin Shay; and great-grandchildren Cody, Mitchell, Jacob, Cole, and Cooper. Ray had several nieces and nephews he loved as his own children. Our family wishes to extend our gratitude to Dr. Rodemeyer at the Moses Lake Clinic; Dr. Prasada, Dr. Daniels and his nurse Noreen, and Dr. Starkweather at the Wenatchee Valley Clinic; and the first floor nursing staff at Central Washington Hospital for the professional and compassionate care you showed Ray. We are proud of his service to our country and grateful for the love he showed our family.