Terry Alan Wapner

1959 - 2021

Terry Alan Wapner
September 5, 1959 - December 4, 2021
Clovis, California - Terry Alan Wapner unexpectedly passed away on December 4, 2021 at the age of 62. Terry was born in Fresno to Bettylee and Melvin Wapner. He graduated from Bullard High School, where he excelled academically, participated in athletics, debate and many other extracurricular activities. He was named "Knight of the Year" as a senior. Following graduation, Terry attended the University of Southern California for his Bachelor's degree, and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from San Joaquin Law School.
Terry embraced life as a USC Trojan. He was a Yell King at Trojan games, and a campus tour guide for prospective new students and their families. His life revolved around being a Trojan. He was a steadfast USC Football season ticket holder, attending games with friends and family not only in Los Angeles but in other cities as well. Fight on!
Terry's legal career began as a Prosecutor with the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office. His legal career spanned more than three decades, the last 16 of which were devoted to the defense of DUI and related crimes. Terry is California's 5th Certified Science Lawyer and was recognized as a leader in his field. Terry was on the Board of Directors of the California DUI Lawyers Association as well as the National College for DUI defense. He taught other attorneys at legal seminars across the country in the art of DUI Defense. He was also a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. Most recently he created, along with attorney David Jones, the law firm of Wapner Jones PC, the Central Valley's premier DUI defense firm.
Terry met the love of his life, Chanel, in 1992, when he gave her his phone number and asked her to call him. Chanel, being the lady that she is, told Terry, " I am a lady and ladies don't call men." They met again in 1994, and again in 1996, when Terry finally took the initiative and picked up the phone himself. From then on, it was true love. Terry and Chanel were married in 2000. Terry devoted his life to his wife, children and grandchildren, enjoying their sports and school events. He spent every game taking pictures of his grandson on the football field and his granddaughter on the soccer field and never a day passed without sharing how proud he was of their accomplishments. He was elated when his granddaughter was accepted to USC, and looked forward to her graduation this coming Spring.
Friendships were important to Terry, having many lifelong friends from preschool to college. If you were a friend of Terry's, you were a friend for life. Terry lived life to the fullest, taking on challenges and opportunities, maintaining friendships, and being a pillar of support to many.
Terry is survived by his wife Chanel, daughter Kesha and son-in-law Jeff, grandchildren Ariana and Brandon, mother Bettylee Wapner, brother Larry and wife Maria, their children, Danielle Pagano (Joey), Nicole and Christopher Hollister, and numerous cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Wapner.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 pm on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at Pardini's Restaurant, 2257 W. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California. As a tribute to Terry, donations may be made to B'nai B'rith Fresno. May his memory be a blessing.