Alma G. Wagner

Alma G. Wagner, age 87, born November 3, l921, in Painesville, Ohio, died peacefully on July 5, 2009, in Austin, Texas after a long illness. She fought a long and valiant battle defying all predictions for her life expectancy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Matilda and Maurice Schlang, sisters Beatrice Gurevitz, Ruth Cooper, and Joy Nesson. Alma was married to Nathan Wagner of Las Cruces, New Mexico who died in 1991. She is survived by her sister Sylvia Marx of Columbus, Ohio, and brother Neil Schlang (Kathy), as well as 3 loving children, David (Cathy), Judy Pickeral (Bill), and Nancy Blumberg (Jay). She has 6 loving and successful grandchildren, Sarah Weber (Justin), Diana Miller (Seth), Jacob Blumberg, Carrie Horney (Clayton), Jeffrey Blumberg, and William Pickeral as well as two great granddaughters. Alma was raised and married in Ohio. As a young woman she worked to put her sister through nursing school. She worked as a Revlon representative as well as a laboratory technician. Alma and Nathan moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1945, where she lived until moving to Texas in 2003 due to health reasons. Alma was a homemaker and also an active community member. Alma with her husband Nat was part of the founding members of Temple Beth El. She was the organizer and coordinator for the first March of Dimes Drive ever held in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition, she was a long standing member of the WIA of Las Cruces, part of Parent's Anonymous, and an active supporter of the Gospel Rescue Mission. She was active with the Las Cruces Community Concert, doing fundraising and hosting visiting artists. When Nat became ill she became his devoted caregiver as well as his loving wife. Alma was a loving wife, devoted mother, and loyal friend who treasured life, her family and friends, music, dancing, swimming, and the Oregon Mountains. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. A Memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Temple Beth El, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the March of Dimes at www.marchofdimes.org or the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org