Karl Gaywood Wagner, 92, loving husband of the late Margaret Danser Wagner and a resident of Cheriton and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at his residence in Cheriton. Born August 13, 1927, in Millstone Township, N.J., he was the son of the late Clarence Wagner and the late Emma Stillwell Wagner. He was a former fourth generation farmer of Millstone Township.
He is survived by four children, Karl G. Wagner Jr. and Cindy, of Cheriton, Nancy Ellen Wagner, of Cheriton, Gary William and Julie Leigh Wagner, of Cheriton, and Rick and Kim Wagner, of Tallahasse, Fla.; and grandchildren, Devin and Hector Barreto and their sons, Ethan, Jayden, and Julian, Zachary and Lauren Oroski and their daughters, Stella and Winter, Ashley Wagner and her daughter, Maris, Trisha Guynn and her son, Heydin, Lauren and Dave Bryan, and Jack and Samantha Wagner. He was predeceased by his seven brothers and sisters.
At the age of 17, he bought his first tractor and began farming as Wagner Brothers Custom Farming. His love of farming brought him to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 1950 and his custom farming business extended from the Eastern Shore to Maine. In the late 1990s, Gaywood and Margaret moved to the Eastern Shore and he left a legacy of farming for 75 years.
“Once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a politician, and a preacher, but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment will be in the Old Tennent Cemetery in Englishtown, N.J. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lower Northampton Baptist Church, 24280 Lankford Highway, Cape Charles, VA 23310.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were made by Wilkins-Doughty Funeral Home in Cape Charles.
