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1930-2008 Past Captain, Potentate 2004, SESA Director General 2007
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Wagner,
Willard P. "Bill"
posted October 17, 2008
Bill Wagner |
He played baseball through high school years, college and company-sponsored league teams and amateur senior league. Bill served as a scout master and assistant knothole baseball coach.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Engineering and earned an Associate degree in Computer Science/Electronics from Chattanooga State Community College.
Bill retired from Combustion Engineering after 35 years with the Company serving in various capacities in the Engineering department.
Bill returned to the work force being employed by Hamilton County as a building inspector, as well as Bradley County, Red Bank and Building Official for the Town of Signal Mountain.
He belonged to Dalewood-Lakeside Lions Club, having joined the Eastdale Lions club in 1963. He served as treasurer of the club for many years. He was named Lion of the Year, Lion of the Decade and Melvin Jones Fellowship by the Dalewood Lions Club.
Bill belonged to Tompkins Lodge #466, Alhambra Shrine, Scottish Rite, Chattanooga York Rite, Red Cross of Constintine, Jester Court 39, Order of Quetzalcoatl, Monte Vista 66, Ga-Tri County Shrine Club, Alhambra Pipes and Drums, and he was Past Potentate of Alhambra Shrine, Past President Ga-Tri County Shrine Club, and Past Captain of Alhambra Pipes and Drums. He served as Director General of the Southeastern Shrine Association held in Chattanooga in 2007.
Bill was a member of the Half Century Club of Chattanooga and Chattanooga Woodcarvers. He was a master woodcarver, carving realistic birds and waterfowl. Bill was a very good artist painting still life in watercolor and oils.
He loved to travel, having had the pleasure of touring in Europe with friends on three occasions, Canada, much of the United States as well as many cruises in Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Bill belonged to GraceWorks church, which he loved very much.
Bill was elected to serve as Justice of the Peace in 1972.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Curtis Wagner; mother, Thelma Wagner and sister, Barbara Jones.
Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mildred Wagner; children, Bill Wagner, Jr., Rossville, Susan Sutherland, Alpharetta, Ga., Belinda Phillips, Pikeville, Tn., Leslie Phelps, son-in-law, Tim Phelps, Birchwood; grandchildren, Laura Wagner, Selma, Al., Meagan, Cameron, and Christian Sutherland, Alpharetta, Ga., Katie Phelps, Birchwood, and Hailey Houston, Rossville; brother, Chief Judge Curtis Wagner, Sr., Alexandria, Va.; sister-in-law, Shirley Queen, Knoxville, Tn.
Funeral services for Bill will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at GraceWorks Church, 6445 Lee Highway, conducted by Dr. Dennis Newman and Rev. Billy Dean. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of Alhambra Pipes and Drums. Active pallbearers will be John Noll, PP, Mack Weems, PP, Gary Matlock, PP, Stanley Wagner, PP, Glenn Casey and David Thorne.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist.