David Earl Wagoner, a Vietnam veteran who loved spending time with his family and friends, died peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, after a short battle with cancer. He was 76.

“David graduated from high school at Berne-Knox in 1965,” his family wrote in a tribute. “After, he attended Cobleskill College and graduated in 1967, which he was very proud of.

“In 1968, he then enlisted in the United States Air Force and started basic training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas. After basic training, he was sent to Tallahassee, Florida where he prepared to be sent to Vietnam in April 1969.

“He proudly served in Vietnam as a staff sergeant and was stationed at DaNang Air Base. David spent almost a year on the base, loading bombs, missiles, and guns onto planes. He was then sent to Korea for temporary duty and after was sent back to the States to finish his time stationed in North Carolina, until he was honorably discharged in December 1972.

“David loved spending time with family and friends, while telling stories and jokes with a cup of coffee in hand. He loved hearing about all of the hunting stories along with adding some of his own. He kept a log as to who got a deer, how much it weighed, and how many points it had.

“He loved his fur ‘little girls,” Saydie and Rosie. He often liked to make a noise just to get them barking and snuck them treats when no one was looking.”

****

David Earl Wagoner was the loving husband to Patricia (née Gilbert) Wagoner for 24 years. His parents, Earl Wagoner and Florence Olsmidt, died before him along with his sister, Viola Durocher, and his son, Timothy Wagoner. He is survived by his sister, Leila Gardineer, and her husband, Ray, and by his brother, Donald Wagoner, and his wife, Annie.

He was the proud father of David Wagoner Jr. who is married to Jennifer, Jonathan Wagoner who is married to Domenica, and Charlie Wagoner who is married to Nichole. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Stacey Grant and her husband, Earl; Richard Rapp and his wife, Diane; Brian Rapp and his wife, Sarah; and Holly Liberty.

He held dear his grandchildren Johnathan, Kasey, Keyaura (James), Austin, Savannah (Scott), Alivia (Mark), Owen, Elizabeth, and Jimmy along with three step-grandsons Spencer, Tyler, and Kyle. He is also survived by his five great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his best friends, Dean and Mike.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont with a service to follow at 1 p.m.