Justin Melville Wagner, Jr.

It is with great sadness that the Wagner family announces the passing of Justin Melville Wagner Jr., age 91, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Justin, better known as Ted, was born on January 18, 1934 in San Diego, CA to Justin and Elizabeth Wagner.

The family settled in the Ocean Beach/Point Loma area where Ted later attended Point Loma High School. He went on to serve in the Navy for four years during the Korean War. After leaving the service he worked as a carpenter and then attended college and achieved an aeronautical engineering degree. During this time he met and married the love of his life, Sally Ferrara, in 1955.

Ted went on to work with Convair Aeronautical and eventually to NASA in Houston. He was involved in the Apollo program and the ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) program. He also worked on the development of the SR71 spy plane, still known to this day as the most effective spy plane in existence. Ted eventually moved back to Southern California and worked in the aerospace industry at TRW.

Three children arrived along the way. Jeff in 1959, Richard in 1962, and Lori in 1963.

Ted had many passions. He and Sally enjoyed yearly trips to Lake Tahoe with the kids and grandkids. He loved golf, tennis, water skiing, boating and playing video poker at the casino. He was thrilled to play golf in the Buick Open Pro-Am with Bubba Watson which was a great experience. He went up in a hot air balloon, jumped out of an airplane at the age of 75 with his grandson Taylor (celebrating his 18th birthday) and his son Rich, and soared through the sky in a sailplane.

One of the most memorable things about Ted was his love and generosity for others. He regularly took his Aunt Margie to breakfast, took his brother-in-law Rich to the casino (in his wheelchair), and was always there for our whole family.

We will miss his great sense of humor, his laugh, his love for life, his generosity and his unique personality. He left a great impact on this world.

Ted is predeceased by his parents Justin and Elizabeth Wagner, siblings Patricia Jennings, John Wagner and granddaughter Katie Wagner.

He is survived by: Sally, his loving wife of 69 years; his children, Jeff (Judy) Wagner of Solana Beach, Richard (Elaine) Wagner of Carlsbad, Lori Wagner of Leucadia; grandchildren: Taylor Wagner, Gaby (Erik) Reyno, Connor Wagner, Gracie Wagner, Jackson Wagner, Hannah Wagner, great grandson Elijah Reyno, and a great granddaughter due in April. Ted will also be dearly missed by Don & Angie Crist and Lee & Sharon Ferguson.