Edward J. Wagner USAF Lt Col Ret.

He was born in Buffalo, New York and attended schools there including St. Bonaventure Prep School and St. Bonaventure University.

After working in the retail men's clothing business in Buffalo, he moved to New York City, where he worked in the foreign airport development program for Pan American Airways.

He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and was stationed at Ft. Bliss, Texas with the 1st Cavalry Division. He subsequently attended OCS and transferred to the Army Air Corps. He was stationed at Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York, where he met and married his wife of 58 years, Elinor, who was a producer of two national NBC radio programs.

During WWII, he served in the China-Burma-India Theater, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. After the war, he was assigned to the Pentagon. Following an assignment to Wiesbaden, Germany as Director of Personnel for the 1807th Airways and Air Communications AACS Wing, Lt Col Wagner was transferred to AACS Headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, as Director of Personnel. An assignment to Keflavik, Iceland followed where he was the Air Base Group Commander for the Iceland Air Defense Force.

Lt Col Wagner returned to the Pentagon where he served as the Aide to the Comptroller of the Air Force. His last assignment involved the transfer and establishment of the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base.

Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1965, he worked to the Texas Employment Commission in San Antonio for 20 years as a supervisor and service representative.

He was a member of the American Legion, Alamo Post 2, where he served on the Executive Committee. He was also a member of the Plaza Club. He and his wife were very active members of the Harp and Shamrock Society of Texas. Lt Col Wagner was a member of the Board of Directors of the Harp and Shamrock Society and was elected Irishman of the Year in 1995 and was the Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade in 2000.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors: son, LTC Ret. Edward J. Wagner, Jr. and wife, Sharon; granddaughter, Kristin Monzon and husband, Jose; great granddaughter, Adrianna Monzon; sister, Pat Olson; sisters-in-law, Clare Fraser, Bea Moynihan and Sylvia Moynihan; nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to the Harp and Shamrock Society Scholarship Fund, 19843 Encino Brook, San Antonio, TX 78259.