Herbert ''Bill'' William Wagner, 77, Enjoyed Telling Jokes and Making People Laugh

He was born November 18, 1928 in Elk Park, North Carolina and raised in Beckley, West Virginia. He has been a resident of Lorain since 1956.

Mr. Wagner served with the US Army during the Korean Conflict with the Corp of Engineers. He received his Bachelor Degree in teaching from Beckley College in Beckley, West Virginia.

He was an employee of the US Postal Service for twenty-five years, retiring in 1986 as a postman. He was a member of Church of the Open Door in Elyria and a former member of the former Euclid Avenue Baptist Church and Fellowship Baptist church both in Lorain. Hew as a loving, devoted husband, dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. A man with a wonderful sense of humor, he enjoyed telling jokes, making people laugh, golfing, bird and deer watching, and working crossword puzzles. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-four years Lucille Wagner (nee: Clark); his daughters and son-in-laws Carol and Jim Wright of Elyria and Faye and Jim Hocking of Warsaw, Indiana; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and his sisters Hazel Gregory of Tallahassee, Florida and Evelyn Graham of Roanoke, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Ida Mae Wagner (nee: Thompson); by his brothers Ken Wagner and Everett Wagner, Jr.; and by his infant sister Thelma and sister Helen Sluss.

Friends may call Thursday, January 26, 2006 from 3-6 p.m. at Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Avenue, Amherst. Funeral services with the Amherst Veterans Military Honor Guard will be held Friday, January 27, 2006 at 11 a.m. from the funeral home. Rev. Robert Schroyer, associate pastor, of Church of the Open Door in Elyria, will officiate. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Garden, Avon.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to CHP Regional Foundation/New Life Hospice; 3700 Kolbe Road, Lorain, Ohio 44053.