David Kenneth Wagner

December 26, 1932 – March 13, 2020

Harrisburg, PA – Friday evening, David Kenneth and his loving wife of 65 years, Marilyn Shirley, were out enjoying a lovely dinner at their favorite restaurant with the company of their son, David Mark Wagner. They came home and David settled down to his usual evening routine, which included a Tandy cake! He had settled into his favorite chair beside his wife to watch television and was holding his beloved dog, Molly, when he peacefully passed in his sleep. Just this past week, his daughter, Lynne Elizabeth Guimond, had taken her father and mother and family on a wonderful cruise. Dad had a great time being back on the water, enjoying the sun and touring the islands. He loved playing cards and one night, we were headed up in the elevator and with a twinkle in his eye he said, “It’s too early to go to bed,” and he rubbed his fingers together, which he did for luck when playing cards. We closed the elevator door and headed back down! Father, Mother and daughter played his favorite game of Let it Ride as a family.

David loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman, sharing his love with his children and grandchildren – Beau, Dominique, Daniel and Katrese. He and Marilyn, who also loved fishing as much as David, over the years, owned six boats. Their final yacht named “Davlyn VI” was their pride and joy. Many happy memories were made with the family crabbing and cruising the Chesapeake Bay. Growing up, family weekends were spent at the lake house which has been in Marilyn’s family since 1968, and is located outside of Hazelton, in the Poconos. The family would gather for skiing, swimming, fishing and winner take all croquet games. David loved being surrounded by his family and was happiest when supporting his grandchildren! He loved attending baseball games, school events, and he especially loved attending horseshows and watching the kids compete over the years. He loved gardening and was always sending flowers to the love of his life, Marilyn Shirley.

David grew up in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, and is the second son of Walter and Ethel Wagner. He and his older brother, John, attended Hazelton School District. David graduated in 1950, and went to work for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1953, while attending the Diamond Methodist Church, David met Marilyn and she says it was love at first sight for both of them. Marilyn was a senior at West Hazelton High School and shortly there after, David was drafted into the Army. He was stationed in Fort Meade, Maryland, and was trained in the tank division as a driver. They were in love and he would return home or she would go with his parents and visit him on the weekends. After Marilyn graduated, they got engaged and were married on November 27, 1954. David was discharged early so he could enroll at Wilkes College, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. They lived with Marilyn’s parents for 4 ½ years so that David could finish his education. While living with them, their son, David Mark Wagner was born in June of 1958.

David finished his BS in Business Administration in 3 ½ years and upon graduation, accepted a sales position in Harrisburg, PA, with Honeywell, Inc. They moved to Harrisburg in 1959, and in April 1961, they had a daughter, Lynne Elizabeth. After working for Honeywell for 10 years, David partnered with Jim Bohl, who also worked at Honeywell as a service manager and they formed B & W, Inc. in 1971, specializing in heating and air conditioning. David was the President; Jim was the Vice-President and Marilyn was the office Manager. They ran the business out of their house on Darby Place in Harrisburg. This decision shaped the future and everyone worked to grow the business. Over the years, both Mark and Lynne joined the company. After almost 50 years of being President, David; even in retirement came to the office every day, and with this Friday being no exception, to have lunch with the family and staff.

David will be remembered by his wife, Marilyn, who continues to be active in B & W, Inc., and his Son, David Mark Wagner, and his daughter, Lynne Elizabeth Guimond, husband Michael Nelson Guimond, and grandchildren; Beau Nelson Guimond, Dominique Michelle Guimond, Daniel Mark Wagner and Katrese Mary Wagner. He will be missed by everyone his life touched, including all the employees at B & W, Inc.

A private funeral service will be held at Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA 17111, at 11:00 am, Thursday, March 19,2020. There will be a public viewing on Wednesday evening from 6-8pm, in the funeral home. With the current government guidelines, the family will understand if you choose not to attend. The family requests that you say a prayer and leave a memory at the link below. The funeral service for family and close friends will be officiated by Warren Wagner, a nephew of David’s. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Kidney Foundation of Central PA or the Central PA Heart Association, in memory of David. www.dignitymemorial.com

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