Darren Porter Waggoner

1960 - 2021

WAGGONER, Darren Porter, age 60, passed away on January 11, 2021, after a brief yet valiant battle against the COVID-19 virus. He is now united in heaven with his parents, Fredric P. Wagner and Sheila Jean (Lovins) Wagner.

Darren was born and raised in Bristol, Virginia, and proud of its motto "A Good Place To Live." Darren was a 1978 graduate of John S. Battle High School, where he lettered in many sports, breaking the school's cross country record, 17 minutes 23 seconds for the 5,500 meters, and was bestowed the title of Mr. Phoenix of his senior class.

Darren was a 1982 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After five years, he finished his service as a Captain stationed at the Los Angeles AFB – Space Division. He was a 1993 graduate of William & Mary's Executive MBA Program. Mr. Waggoner was a fourth generation Master Mason and a member of Metropolitan Lodge #11 AF&AM. He was a member of the Western Henrico Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow. The family would like thank Rotary for hosting a fundraiser in Darren's memory.

He and his parents were former owners of McLean's restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, and as an entrepreneur, he had many business ventures throughout his life before founding the logistics company he owned for the past 20 years.

Throughout his adult life, Darren was a dedicated and loving father. Among his passions were music, which he fostered by traveling to all corners of the United States to attend concerts and festivals; the arts, having annual season tickets to Richmond's theater series; literature, with a library stock full of first editions; and motorcycles, racing and touring the world, and at one time holding the Virginia record and ranking third in the country for miles ridden in one year. Darren's joie de vivre was only surpassed by his ability to make friends. The tag line "He never met a stranger!" could have been based on him. Once you met him, you were a friend for life. Darren loved good conversation, good bourbon and a good cigar.

Darren is survived by his two children, Dylan Waggoner (Eugena), Brooke Waggoner (fiance, Will); grandson, Dean Dawes Waggoner; his first wife and cherished friend, Cassandra Nelson; and special mother-in-law and comadre, Helen Little; sisters, Danita Rhett (Roland), Dionna Kelleher (Barry); brother, Derek Wagner; his beloved lifelong friend and business partner, Steve Sproles; and eight special nieces and nephews, Jessica Vincent, Summer Tocci, Trent Kelleher, Miranda Kelleher, Jade Kelleher, Devan Wagner, Joshua Wagner and Lauren Wagner.

A Celebration of Life will be held when all family and friends can once again gather together to honor Darren and the wonderful life he lived.

"The highest function of love is that is makes the loved one a unique and irreplaceable being." – Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking you to honor Darren's memory by considering donating to one of two scholarships. Darren cherished the influence his education and athletic ability had on his life. These two scholarships have been carefully chosen by the family in the hopes of continuing those positive influences in another student's life.

Gifts in memory of Darren Waggoner MBA'93, may be sent to W&M Office of Gift Accounting, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, Va. 23187. Please make check payable to W&M Business School Foundation and note that your gift is in memory of Darren Waggoner to be used for the Graduate Hardship Scholarship (4792). If you prefer to give online, please visit https://giving.wm.edu/give-now/.

Gifts in memory of Darren Waggoner, USAFA'82 may be selected by visiting www.afacademyfoundation.org. Select Give Now. Select View All Giving Opportunities. Choose Track and Field/Cross Country Team Fund. Choose In Honor/Memory of Someone Special. Memo Darren Waggoner, Class of '82. Notification Brooke Waggoner, P.O. Box 232, Studley, Va. 23162.