James T. Wagner

James (Jimmy) Wagner of Little River, SC passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at the age of 72. Jimmy was born in Paterson, NJ on December 8, 1950. He was the son of Richard and Lilian (Black) and the brother of Richard (Richie). Jimmy was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

After spending his early days in Paterson, NJ, Jimmy’s family moved to Pompton Lakes, NJ. There he attended grade school and high school before going off to Vietnam. Jimmy heroically served his country in combat from 1971 until 1972. Upon his return, Jimmy continued to live In Pompton Lakes where he worked for many years as an arborist for the Township of Wayne.

After retirement, Jimmy left the sprawling metropolis of Pompton Lakes and settled into the quaint village of Little River, SC. There he bought a home and started to enjoy his hobby of working on classic cars. He was very proud of his 55 Chevy Bel Air which he only drove on clear, sunny days. The story goes that when Jimmy first started driving the car, he was not happy with its sluggish performance. After a couple of trips to his friend the mechanic, he was politely told that the car would run much better if Jimmy could remember to disengage the emergency brake.

Late afternoons Jimmy could be found at Mulligan’s Sports Bar sitting in the second stool from the side door. At Mulligan’s, Jimmy would sip a few Bud Lights and engage in conversation with his friends. His favorite topics included classic cars, the Yankees and Rangers teams, as well as Vietnam.

Jimmy will be sadly missed by his brothers of the US Army 1st Cavalry Division as well as his many friends.

A celebration of Jimmy’s life will be held at Mulligan’s Sports Bar in Little River on September 6, 2023 at 5PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the Wagner family.