Joseph Church Wagner

Mr. Wagner was born in East Lakearea of Chattanooga and moved to Signal Mountain at the age of two, graduatedfrom Signal Mountain Grammar School, Dickerson Junior High and Chattanooga HighSchool (class of l933.) He earneda Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science for the University of Chattanooga(class of 1937), and Doctor Jurisprudence on scholarship from the University ofTennessee Law School, Knoxville (class of 1940.)

Mr. Wagner was an avid hunter andfisherman. He had the distinction of being the oldest Eagle Scout of Troop 60,attending the first National Scout Jamboree in Washington, DC as a Leader, andas serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 60.

After joining his father to formthe law firm of Wagner & Wagner andpracticing law for a brief time, Joe accepted a position with the FBI as aSpecial Agent, serving during World War II in California, Montana and Idaho. Hemarried his college sweetheart, Grey Littleton of Chattanooga, on July 1, 1945in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Mr. Wagner resigned form the FBIin 1946 and returned to Signal Mountain to rejoin his father to the lawpractice, becoming the senior partner of Wagner,Nelson and Weeks and practicing with sons Richard and Michael untilthe day of his death. He was proud of having the privilege of making motionsbefore the Tennessee Supreme Court to accept his two sons and one granddaughterto the Practice of Law in Tennessee. He served as the Town Attorney for the Town of Signal Mountain retiringafter 50 years and continued to serve as Back Tax Attorney until his death. Hewas a Charter member of the Signal Mountain Lions Club and Past Chairman of theChattanooga Chapter of the Society of Former Agents of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation.

"Papa Joe" is survivedby his wife of 66 years, Grey Littleton Wagner; children: Bob Wagner, Alice(Sib) Evans, Richard (Sunny) Wagner, Jonathan Wagner, Mary Jo (Rob) Richie,Kathleen (Fred) Robinson, Michael (Joan) Wagner, Patricia (Wayne) Stewart, allof Chattanooga and Cissy (Bob) Coleman of Vicksburg, Mississippi; 16grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Sunday4:00-6:00 PM at Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel on South Moore Road.Funeral will be Monday 2:00 PM at St Augustine Catholic Church, Signal Mountainwith Rev Mike Nolan officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery,East Ridge.

In lieu of flowers, memorialcontributions may be made to Walden's Ridge Emergency Service, P. O. Box 215,Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377 or your favorite charity.