Spartanburg, S.C. - The Rev. Joseph Christian Wagner, 81, of Spartanburg, SC died Sunday, January 6, 2008 in Laurens County Hospital, Laurens, SC. Born in Cleveland, TN, he was the son of the late Edward Christian and Ruth Wagner. Rev. Wagner was a graduate of Bob Jones University and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Columbia Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity. He did post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ and was ordained at the Tryon Presbyterian Church in 1952 where he continued to serve during the construction of the current sanctuary. He had served as the Minister of congregations in Cherry Pt., NC, Emporia, Va, Crestview, FL and Ft. Myers, FL. For 12 years he served at the historic Nazareth Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, SC. Rev. Wagner retired from The First Presbyterian Church of Gatlinburg, TN in 1990 and served as the Minister of Visitation at the First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg for several years. He was currently a member of the Foothills Presbytery. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Margaret McCarley Wagner; a daughter, Julia Wicker (Randy) of Spartanburg, SC; two grandsons and a granddaughter, Ben Kittrell of Washington, DC; Pierce and Alexandra Wicker; a brother-in-law Bobby McCarley (Louise) all of Spartanburg, SC. Memorial services will be held 5:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10, 2008 in the First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, SC with Dr. David Renwick and Dr. George McGill officiating. Family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Purnell Fund of the First Presbyterian Church, 393 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. The family will be at the Wicker home, 229 Indian Wells Dr., Carolina Country Club, Spartanburg, SC 29306.
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