Samuel Wagner

Samuel Wagner, of Chester County, PA passed away on June 15, 2024, as dawn broke, with Mary Ann by his side, while listening to his eldest son Sam read to him from a favorite book. His final days were filled with visits from family and friends. He passed from this realm peacefully and was surrounded by love.

Sam was born January 14, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA, to Susan Groome Toland Wagner and Samuel Wagner III. He joined a large family of four older half-siblings (Robert, Harry, Susan, and Priscilla) at the family’s home at Deborah’s Rock Farm in West Chester, PA. Sam’s father passed away when he was an infant. His mother married Sen. Thomas Porter Harney in 1942. Sam was always grateful for the love and guidance of his stepfather.

Sam attended West Chester Friends School and then started at Westtown School in 7th grade. When Sam was randomly assigned a dining table in 10th grade, he found himself seated with 9th grader Mary Ann Baker, the girl who would later become his wife of 62 years.

Upon graduating from high school Sam attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While in college Sam worked on an oil tanker for one summer. His mother was relieved to learn that he had not dropped out of school when she did not receive a tuition bill from the college. Sam had used his wages to pay his own tuition.

When Sen. Harney passed away in 1960, Sam became the manager along with his mother of Deborah’s Rock Farm.  Once he completed his undergraduate education, he moved back to the farm to oversee the day-to-day operations.

Following a lengthy courtship that spanned seven years, four states, and multiple proposals, Sam and Mary Ann were married on August 11, 1962, in Redding CT, and moved to Deborah’s Rock Farm. They raised three sons, Samuel Wagner V born in 1965, followed by Thomas Willard Wagner in 1967, and Michael Connelly Wagner in 1970.

Sam continued to pursue his education in economics at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his PhD in 1971. He began a life-long career as a college professor while in graduate school. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching and educating young minds. When he took a new position teaching at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA in 1982, he was grateful to be driving in a new orientation which would allow him to always have the sun at his back.  He retired in 2003 from F&M as the Clair R. McCullough Chair of the Business Administration & Economics Department.

While running a farm, raising three children, and teaching full-time Sam also found time to serve as an elected township supervisor in West Bradford, PA as well as on the board of trustees at Westtown School.

He did get one month off a year when the family escaped to Nantucket Island. He cherished the time away with family and friends sailing, picnicking, cycling, exploring, and frolicking in the sea.

When Sam and Mary Ann sold Deborah’s Rock Farm in 2015, they moved to the Kendal-Crosslands Community in Kennett Square, PA. There they found a warm welcome, made new friends, and were able to reconnect with many others they had made over the years. Sam served as President of the Crosslands Resident Association Board and was an active community member.

Sam lived a life of continuous learning, curiosity, service to the needs of others, and dedication to the preservation of open space. He was a Quaker and an accomplished and prolific poet. Many friends and family members cherish the works by him that were created to celebrate their special days.

Sam is survived by Mary Ann and their sons Samuel V, Thomas, and Michael, daughters-in-law Kristin and Carrissa, plus grandchildren Jackson, Charlotte and her wife Hannah, Spencer Lee, Ellowyn, Gabriel, Morgan, and Maddox, and his beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends.   

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sam’s memory to the Westtown School Class of ‘57 Peter O. Lane Scholarship Fund and/or the Class of ‘58 Fund for Faculty Enrichment and/or The Fund for Women and Girls of Chester County and/or The Chester County Hospital Foundation – with recognition to the Cardiac Care Ward and the Hospice Team, and/or Kendall-Crosslands Employee Appreciation Fund – with recognition for the team in Firbank Central.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service, Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Westtown Meeting House at Westtown School.