Ruth Opal Wagner, 96, El Dorado, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015.

She was born Sept. 26, 1919, to Olive Lodema (Manwarren) and John David Wright near Lyons, Kansas, in Rice County. She graduated from Lyons High School and received her undergraduate degree from Emporia State Teachers College in 1941. Ruth taught school in Paxico and Geneseo, Kansas before teaching in the Wichita school system for 26 years, retiring in 1982.

She met Samuel Earl Wagner when they both were teaching at Geneseo, Kansas. They were married in 1944.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, and husband.

She is survived by her three children: Don Wagner and wife, Sheila, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Nancy Wagner and husband, Leonard Kinzie, of Topeka, Kansas, and David Wagner and wife, Nancy, of El Dorado, Kansas; three grandchildren, Aaron Kinzie and wife, Jessica Durham, of Rotterdam, New York, Matthew Wagner and wife, Nikki, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Andrew Wagner and wife, Sarah, of Wichita, Kansas; and four great-grandchildren, Brianna and Raymond Kinzie, and Hudson and Colbie Wagner.

She was a member of Eastern Star for more than 70 years. She was a devoted member of Broadway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Wichita for many years. Ruth belonged to The Gideons International and was active in Christian Women’s Fellowship.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, El Dorado, Kansas. No graveside service.

Memorials can be made to Disciples Home Missions (Disciples Women General Fund) or to Burns (Kansas) Public Library, in care of Carlson Colonial Funeral Home. Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Ruth at www.carlsoncolonial.com