Roll Call Tribute

Published in Houston Chronicle on September 28, 2011

Alfred Wagner Jr.
Alfred Wagner, Jr. passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday, September 25, 2011. He was born June 11, 1928 in Winedale, TX, to Alfred and Lina (Spies) Wagner. He graduated from Round Top Carmine High School in 1945, where he played basketball and won a bi-district championship. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a B.S. in Geology in 1949, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, 1st Lieutenant. Al married his high school sweetheart, Ruby Lee Doerr, on September 4, 1949. After graduation, he went to work for Lane Wells in Odessa, Lubbock, and Monahans (Dirt City). He was hired later as a geologist for Plymouth Oil Company and he and Ruby moved to Sinton, TX in 1952. In 1957 they moved to Corpus Christi where he worked as a geologist for Skelly Oil Company and later moved to Houston with Skelly in 1965 as Senior District Geologist. Al then ventured out on his own as an independent geologist. Times were hard, but being a frugal man, he always managed to put money aside every month to provide for his family. With the help of his wife, Ruby, he built a successful oil exploration company, which he managed until his death.

He was a member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Houston Geological Association and Texas A & M Association of Former Students. He made generous contributions to the Corps of Cadets and 12th Man Foundation at Texas A & M and was a loyal Aggie through and through. His family always joked that he" bled maroon." He was a staunch supporter of the Winedale Historical Society, his family's homestead, and he and Ruby served on the Board of Directors there for 9 years. He had a kind and generous heart, always willing to help those in need. His passions in life were his ranch in the hill country, hunting, fishing, dancing , world travel, his fighting Texas Aggie football team and band, his children and grandchildren, and spending as much time as possible with his loving wife.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Ruby, daughter Linda Wagner Ward and husband, Cecil Ward of Phoenix, sons James G. Wagner of Dallas and Ross E. Wagner and wife, Cassandra, of Houston and grandchildren Michael Ward and wife, Alicia, of Austin Texas, Dr. James M. Holmes Jr., Summer Holmes Warner and husband, Andy Warner, and Blake Ward of Phoenix, Rubianne Wagner, Karina Wagner, and Brendan Wagner of Houston; his sister Verline Grace Wagner Fuchs and husband, Melvin.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, Alfred and Lina Wagner, and three brothers Arlin, Oliver, and Cordell.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 from 5PM - 8PM in the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home-Chapel 13001 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77079
281-497-2210

Funeral services will be on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 2PM in the Christ Memorial Lutheran Church
14200 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079
281-497-0250

Internment will follow in the Memorial Oaks Cemetery
13001 Katy Freeway ,Houston, Texas 77079

Flowers may be sent to Memorial Oaks Funeral Home or in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77480. Please designate the Ruby D. and Alfred "Al" Wagner, Jr. '49 General Rudder Corps Scholarship in the memo line of the check.