Ferdinand Wagner

Rev. Ferdinand “Ferd” Wagner, 92, of Knollwood Place in Martinsville, died Sunday, May 8, 2011 at his residence. He was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania on October 10, 1918 to Clinton Clifford Wagner and Georgia Lovetta Suffal Wagner. He graduated from Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio in 1940 and Westminster Seminary, Westminster, Maryland in 1943. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1945. During his 70 years of ministry, he pastored nine churches in the Virginia Conference. He was currently Pastor Emeritus at First United Methodist Church in Martinsville where he served as Senior Pastor from 1972-1977 and 1991 – 1992. After serving First United Methodist in Martinsville, he was appointed District Superintendent of the Peninsula District from 1977 – 1983. During his tenure, he served with the US Air Force preaching missions in Europe and came back to Martinsville to retire in 1986.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara Arndt Wagner and his second wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Huey Wagner; a daughter, Cynthia Louise Wagner Carter and husband Charles; one brother, Frank Leslie Wagner and wife Margaret “Peg” Evans Wagner.

He is survived by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Wagner Smucker and husband David “Dave” of West Chester, PA; two sons, Ferdinand L. Wagner and wife, Linda of Sterling, VA; John Wesley “Wes” Wagner and wife, Karen of Grafton, VA; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 13, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Ron Mateer and Associate Pastor, Sarah Whitmore officiating. Rev. Wagner’s family and church family invite everyone to join in a time of sharing with a reception immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall. Interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery at 2:00 P.M.

The family will receive friends Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. at Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 22099 Jeb Stuart Hwy, Stuart, VA 24171.

To express condolences on line, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com.