Larry Max Wagner
December 18, 1935-November 14, 2022
Larry Max Wagner, 86, died on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at Riverview Hospital in Noblesville after a lengthy illness.
He was born on Dec. 18, 1935 in Farmland, Indiana, the son of Harry and Flossie Fern (Odle) Wagner.
Mr. Wagner married Elaine (Laird) Wagner on April 6, 1968 in Speedway, Ind.
He was a 1953 graduate of Farmland High School and a graduate of Purdue University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, working his way through school as a waiter. Upon graduation from Purdue, he worked at Western Electric as an engineer. He volunteered for the US Army National Guard from 1958-1961, serving as a Recon Utility Cargo Helicopter Repairman, rising to the rank of Specialist E-4 and earning a Course A Marksman riflery badge.
In the mid-1960s, Mr. Wagner owned and operated a Mobil service station in Lawrence, Ind., for three years. In 1967, he began work as a civilian at the US Army Finance and Accounting Center, where he met his future wife Elaine. During the years at the Finance Center, he rose to the position of Supervisory Computer Specialist. Upon retiring from the Finance Center in 1988, Mr. Wagner was awarded the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service (now known as the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal), the Army’s third highest civilian service award.
From 1989-97, he worked as a Y2K coder at the Mayflower Moving Company and as a call center operator at Charles Schwab from 2000-01. In the following years, he worked for the California Testing Bureau, scoring various state school exams including the Indiana ISTEP test. From 2004-13, he worked at Feeding Concepts in Noblesville, where he handled shipping, receiving, and purchasing.
In addition to being an avid reader, bridge player and investing hobbyist, Mr. Wagner was an enthusiastic inventor, always trying to build the perfect mousetrap. He enjoyed numerous road trips and vacations with his wife and sons, both stateside and abroad. He was well-known for his dry wit and deadpan delivery of puns and groaners. He also had a true passion for magic tricks, though his shyness prevented him from performing publicly.
Alongside his wife, Mr. Wagner spent decades participating in the Hamilton County Theatre Guild in Noblesville (The Belfry). Beginning in 1991, he helped with set building as well as running lights and sound. He made a brief but memorable appearance on stage in the 2010 production of Guys and Dolls. Mr. Wagner was a member of the Belfry’s administrative board for many years, serving both as secretary and president. He also created and maintained the Belfry’s original website in the early 2000s.
He attended Noblesville First United Methodist Church and was active in several functions with the church.
Survivors include his wife Elaine; 2 sons Bryan Laird Wagner and Corwin Michael Woodward; and many nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 sisters Cleo Katherine Peck (George) and Neysa Eileen Wagner; 3 brothers Donovan Lee (Mary Jo), Bobby Duane (Vera Beth) and Gene Eldridge (Yvonne) Wagner; and his daughter Paula Christine Wagner, who died at birth.
The family would like to thank his beloved caregiver, Emad “Emmy” Geris, for her loving and devoted attention.
Visitation is scheduled to be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan Street, Noblesville. An additional visitation is scheduled to be held from 1:30-2:30 p.m., with funeral services scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 at Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument Street in Noblesville. Burial will follow at Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Memorial contributions may be made to Belfry Theatre, PO Box 956, Noblesville, IN 46061 (thebelfrytheatre.com).
Online condolences may be made at randallroberts.com