Gary’s childhood years were spent in Davenport, San Bernardino, California and DeWitt, Iowa.
Gary graduated high School in 1952. He moved to California to attend College at Cal-Aero and at Pasadena City College where he studied Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering. He graduated in 1956.
During these years, one of his best friends was Howard Nielsen. Howard’s sister, Janice also went to PCC but Gary found her aloof and unfriendly. Janice asked Howard to ask Gary if he could give her a ride on a motorcycle as she had never been on one before.
He gave her the ride, and that led to more. After a few rides, she warmed to him, and Gary asked Janice on a date. Howard advised his sister not to date Gary because he was a wild and crazy motorcycle guy who drank. Thankfully, she ignored his advice, and Gary and Janice married on November 15, 1958.
His professional experience included design work on military equipment, circuitry that flew to the moon on the Apollo missions and production equipment design. He was a Police officer in Glendora and a Reserve Sheriff in Mariposa. He also owned several small businesses including a KOA campground and two Radio Shack franchises.
He loved motorcycles, airplanes, trains, model railroading, history, reading, movies, the Dodgers and camping.
Gary is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 63 years, Janice, of Calimesa, California; a brother, Wayne of Surprise, Arizona; four children: Robert, of Nampa, Idaho; Edward of Lebanon, Pennsylvania; Kim of Twentynine Palms, California; and Kristy of Meridian, Idaho. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.weaver-mortuary.com for the Wagner family.
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