December 18, 1935 – November 14, 2022
Larry Max Wagner, 86, died on Monday, November 14, 2022, at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville after a lengthy illness. He was born on December 18, 1935, in Farmland, Ind., the son of Harry and Flossie Fern (Odle) Wagner. He married Elaine (Laird) Wagner, April 6, 1968, in Speedway, Ind.
Larry was a 1953 graduate of Farmland High School and a graduate of Purdue University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, working his way through school as a waiter. Upon graduation from Purdue, he worked at Western Electric as an engineer. He volunteered for the U.S. Army National Guard from 1958 to 1961, serving as a Recon Utility Cargo Helicopter Repairman, rising to the rank of Specialist E-4 and earning a Course A Marksman riflery badge.
In the mid-1960s, he owned and operated a Mobil service station in Lawrence, Ind., for three years. In 1967, he began work as a civilian at the U.S. Army Finance and Accounting Center, where he met Elaine. During the years at the Finance Center, he rose to the position of Supervisory Computer Specialist. Upon retiring from the Finance Center in 1988, he was awarded the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service (now known as the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal), the Army’s third highest civilian service award.
From 1989 to 1997, he worked as a Y2K coder at the Mayflower Moving Company and as a call center operator at Charles Schwab from 2000 to 2001. In the following years, he worked for the California Testing Bureau, scoring various state school exams including the Indiana ISTEP test. From 2004 to 2013, Larry worked at Feeding Concepts in Noblesville, where he handled shipping, receiving, and purchasing.
In addition to being an avid reader, bridge player, and investing hobbyist, he was an enthusiastic inventor, always trying to build the perfect mousetrap. He enjoyed numerous road trips and vacations with Elaine and his sons, both stateside and abroad. He was well-known for his dry wit and deadpan delivery of puns and groaners. Larry also had a true passion for magic tricks, though his shyness prevented him from performing publicly very often.
Alongside his wife Elaine, he spent decades participating in the Hamilton County Theatre Guild in Noblesville (The Belfry). Beginning in 1991, he helped with set building as well as running lights and sound. He made a brief but memorable appearance on stage in the 2010 production of Guys and Dolls. He was a member of the Belfry’s administrative board for many years, serving both as secretary and president. He also created and maintained the Belfry’s original website in the early 2000s.
Larry attended Noblesville First United Methodist Church and was active in several functions with the church.
Larry is survived by his wife, Elaine; sons, Bryan Laird Wagner and Corwin Michael Woodward; and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Larry was the youngest of six children, all others having preceded him in death in addition to his parents. Sisters were Cleo Katherine Peck (George) and Neysa Eileen Wagner; brothers were Donovan Lee (Mary Jo), Bobby Duane (Vera Beth), and Gene Eldridge (Yvonne) Wagner. He was also preceded in death by daughter Paula Christine Wagner, who died at birth.
The family also thanks his beloved caregiver, Emad “Emmy” Geris, for her loving and devoted attention.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., Noblesville. An additional visitation will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., with funeral services at 2:30 p.m., on Friday, November 18, 2022, at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville. Burial will follow at Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to Belfry Theatre, P.O. Box 956, Noblesville, IN 46061 (thebelfrytheatre.com).
Condolences: randallroberts.com