Paul C. Wagner

Paul C. Wagner
Paul C. Wagner of Florala, Ala., died at his home Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at the age of 89, after a lingering illness.
Born May 14, 1914, in Perry Township near Ellwood City, he was one of 11 children.
He was a veteran of World War II and a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church.
He was married to Bessie Wimer Wagner in 1945. They moved with their young family to Florala in 1957.
He had been a farmer, livestock dealer and horse trader for 75 years. He was known throughout the farming communities of Western Pennsylvania, South Alabama and North Florida.
The "little man with a big hat and a booming voice" never met a stranger and left an impression on everyone he met. As a "horse trader," he always had a "gift for gab" and a story for every occasion.
He always said, "Talk is cheap, use lots of it." His motto in life was from the poem by Sam Walter Foss, which he often quoted,
"Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man."
He is survived by his wife of Florala and a sister, Fay Beuhler of Zelienople.
His oldest son, Van, of Florala predeceased him.
His son Tim and wife Patricia live in Maine. His daughter Saxon Poppell and husband Clay are from North Pole, Alaska.
He leaves nine grandchildren, Van's two daughters, Suzanne Smith of Paxton, Fla., and Jill Powell of Dothan Ala.; Tim's five sons, Isaac, Asa, and Jesse in Maine, Joel in Vermont, and Luke in Milan, Italy; Saxon's two children, Derek and Joy, who are students in Moscow, Idaho, and Portland, Ore. They all had special affection for their grandfather.
He had 6 great grandchildren, all girls.
There will be no viewing. Memorial services will be at First Presbyterian Church of Florala, at 11 a.m. Monday.
In lieu of flowers, we request that all contributions in his memory be made to Camp Victory, Victory Circle, Samson, AL 36477; First Presbyterian Church, Box 332, Florala, AL 36442, or Camp Run Presbyterian Church R.D 1, Fombell, PA 16123.
Arrangements are handled by KEAHY FUNERAL HOME, Andalusia, Ala.