DAVID R. WAGNER, M.D.
1942-2022
David R. Wagner, M.D., of Jersey Village and Flynn, Texas, died on Friday, the
4th of February 2022, in Houston. He died peacefully in hospice with his wife of 54 years at his side, just days before he had celebrated his 80th birthday with his family.
Born on the 29th of January 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, he enjoyed many years growing up with his many cousins before moving with his family to Georgia. He graduated from Georgia Tech in Atlanta before moving to New Orleans to go to Tulane Medical School, experiencing the French Quarter and his first hurricane on arrival. He met his wife, Shirley, while working at Touro Infirmary. After three dates he proposed and she accepted. They married during their summer break from school.
He received his medical degree from Tulane in 1969. He quickly moved to Houston to intern at St. Joseph Hospital, followed by an anesthesiology residency there. We teased him that he had no choice but to be a doctor due to his initials “D.R.” and an anesthesiologist because of his winning high school science project on anesthetic agents.
He went into practice first at St. Joseph and later at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center, where he established the anesthesia department for the then new hospital. He also served once as the Chief of Staff there.
He shared his love of reading, logic puzzles, travel, nature, and esoteric facts with his family. He could even be found battling his sons for hours playing RPG video games (much to Shirley’s annoyance). He relaxed playing the piano or took out his frustrations hitting pool balls. Card games, particularly bridge and poker, a source of extra income during med school days, were another source of enjoyment. He loved planning long family trips, sharing his awe of the world’s natural and manmade marvels. Sometimes mouse ears were included.
Along the way, his family “suffered” through dad jokes, dry humor, and neverending puns. Of course, they returned the favor with a vengeance and skewed sense of humor.
Of all his travels, he enjoyed New Zealand the most, Christ Church and Milford Sound in particular. But all travels led back home to his beloved ranch near Flynn, Texas.
After first walking through the woods filled with birds and the fields full of wildflowers and thistles glistening with morning moisture, he commented: “It may not be heaven, but Thistle Dew.”
Did I mention that he loved puns? Thistle Dew Ranch was a source of deep contentment for him over the years.
David is survived by his wife, Shirley Jean Wilson Wagner; his brother, Jack Edward Wagner of Fairmount, Georgia; his sons, Stuart Wilson Wagner of Houston, Mark Edward Wagner of Brussels, Belgium, and Christopher James Wagner of Baytown, along with their wives, Celeste, Joyce, and Stephanie; and eight grandchildren, Donovan, Dane, Abbey, Iva, Kennedy, Wilson, Edward, and Evan. He is also survived by his brother-inlaw, Emory Lamar McGinty of Cumming, Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nephews and grandnieces.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Cornelius Wagner and Mildred Belle Hardison Wagner; and his sister, Cherryl Joy McGinty; and sister-in-law, Ruth Newland Wagner.
A memorial service is to be conducted at six o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 23rd of March, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.
Please visit David’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com, where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.