Paul John Wagner

Paul John Wagner, beloved pastor of many in the Tampa area and founding minister of the Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, died on August 17, 2009 at 93 years of age. At age 17, while a student at Plant High School, Rev. Wagner acquired a license to preach and delivered his first sermon at Hyde Park Methodist Church in Tampa. After graduation from Plant in 1934, he attended Emory University in Atlanta and graduated in 1938 with a degree in Philosophy. At Emory he served as President of his sophomore class and Secretary/Treasurer of his senior class. He was also a violinist in the Emory orchestra. Following Emory, he received a Divinity degree from Yale University, class of 1941. During his student years, he was greatly influenced by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr and the philosopher, Martin Buber. As an avid lifelong tennis player, he played consistently into his early eighties. Rev. Wagner’s first pastoral assignment was with the Arlington United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Shortly thereafter, in 1942, he joined the US Navy as a Lieutenant (JG), Chaplain, serving in the Pacific on an assault transport ship, The U.S.S. Rockingham. His ship delivered Army infantry troops to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, Saipan and other of the Mariana Islands and Manila, and participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Following each landing, his ship converted into a hospital ship. He was awarded the Asiatic Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon and Victory Medal II and remained in the Naval Reserve until 1950. Upon returning from the War, Rev. Wagner was assigned by the Methodist Church to start a new church in the Palma Ceia area of Tampa. He served as senior minister of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church for seventeen years. During his tenure there, the church was recognized as one of the fastest growing churches in the South and became one of the ten largest Methodist churches in Florida at that time. In 1968, he accepted ministry of the Temple Terrace Community Church and served there for twenty years. In the 1970’s, Rev. Wagner served as President of the Florida Council of Community Churches. He taught New Testament Bible at University of Tampa and American Studies at the University of South Florida, and was a pioneer with USF television. His weekly column, Family and Faith, ran in the Tampa Tribune for ten years. And, his radio message, Faith in Life, sponsored by the Institute for Human Values, was broadcast weekly. While teaching at the University of Tampa, he became good friends with Rabbi Zielonka of the Congregation Schaarai Zedek. Their friendship was extended to include their congregations when they organized a joint Thanksgiving service in 1954. This service is still being held each year. Rev. Wagner also served for three years as President of the Tampa Urban League, and, in 1956, was awarded an Achievement Medal from the University of Tampa for excellence in religious and civic leadership. Born in Plymouth, Pa., on April 13, 1916, Rev. Wagner was the son of Harry Josiah Wagner and Mary Jones Wagner. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bush Wagner, a son, Paul, Jr., daughters, Anne Wagner Jones and Sara Wagner Davis; his grandchildren, Catherine Wagner Messman, John Benton Wagner, Jason Daniel Davis and Brent Alan Wagner Davis; his step grandchildren, Laura Candler Linen and Dorothy Candler Baugher; Bonnie’s children, Brenda Lightfoot Handy and Donald Philip Lightfoot; step grandchildren, Laura King Knoblock, Ginger King Burgos, Michael Kenneth Lovasco, Perry Joseph Lightfoot and Benjamin Lee Lightfoot; eleven step-great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister, Leona Wagner Wells, of Wilmington, N.C. and brother, Arthur Harrison Wagner, of New York City. A memorial service for Rev. Wagner will be held in the Palma Ceia United Methodist Church, 3723 W. Bay To Bay Boulevard on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Gifts in Rev. Wagner’s memory may be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, P. O. Box 9068 GPO, New York, New York 10087 or to the Palma Ceia United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.