Robert Madison "Bob" Wagner III

1922 - 2018

Robert "Bob" Madison Wagner III, passed away Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.

Bob was born Feb. 27, 1922, in Lemoyne, Pa., to the late Robert M. Wagner II and Ruth E. (McLane) Wagner. He married his best friend's sister, Marion Elizabeth Hurst, on Feb. 2, 1947 in New Cumberland, Pa.

Bob graduated from New Cumberland High School in 1940. He served honorably in WW II from 1942-1946. He was an infantryman assigned to the 42nd Armored Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division (a.k.a. the "Thunderbolts"), Third Army, under General George S. Patton, during the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge. His division liberated the prisoners of the Mauthausen concentration camp. After VE Day, Bob played trumpet in the U. S. Forces of Austria band.

Bob was a drafting engineer first for Bethlehem Steel, then for Playtex/ILC/Reichold Chemicals, after moving to Delaware in 1958, retiring in 1986. Coming from a long line of musicians, he learned to play trumpet at an early age, which developed into a lifelong love of music. Bob played in numerous bands throughout his lifetime, including bands in Pennsylvania, Milford and Lakeland, Fla., but he was most proud of his own dance band, The Bob Wagner Band. For 43 years the band played throughout the Delmarva Peninsula for weddings, proms, clubs, Delaware Governor inaugural balls, Miss Delaware pageants and other events.

In 1958, Bob became a charter member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, where he was active in the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Men of St. Andrew's and served on church council. At the age of 70, Bob began competing in Delaware, Polk County, Fla., and National Senior Games, eventually earning a total of 158 medals in cycling, tennis, racquetball, track and field, weight lifting and other sports. He was awarded the 2007 Delaware Senior Outstanding Athlete Award at the age of 85.

Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his sisters, Eleanor Vogelsong and Nancy Markelwitz.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marion E. (Hurst) Wagner; his four children, Robert M. Wagner IV, (Karen Ann), Karen Jerolamon, Stephen D. Wagner (Iris), and Rebecca E. Swatski (David); 9 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 11 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 425 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover. Visitation with the family will begin at 1 p.m. Internment will be 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.

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