Joel Hale Wagnon, 88, Orange

Joel Hale Wagnon, 88, of Orange, Texas, passed away on August 6, 2023, in Beaumont, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, August 11, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Barry Bradley. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn in Orange.

Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m., Friday, at First Baptist Church in Orange.

Born in Timpson, Texas, on October 29, 1934, he was the son of Joel Henry Wagnon and Vera (Menefee) Wagnon. Joel loved the Lord and was a longtime, dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Orange, where he served as Deacon and was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. He also sang in choir and quartet at First Baptist Church. Joel was employed as a machinist and pre-planner for Dupont. During his free time, he enjoyed wood working, golfing, genealogy, and volunteering at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and the Lion’s Club Carnival. Joel was a very smart man who was always learning new things and knew how to fix anything. He was full of random knowledge and was happy to share it with anyone. Joel never met a stranger, and he was smitten by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His loved ones will always treasure their memories of Joel and he will be missed deeply by many.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Vera Wagnon; son, Joel H. Wagnon, Jr.; brother-in-law, Preston Nichols; and his father and mother-in-law, Estill and Lillian Castleberry.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years in April, Patricia Wagnon; son, Ronny Wagnon and wife, Eliska of Sulphur, Louisiana; daughter, Cheryl Garza and husband Ray of Lake Charles, Louisiana; grandchildren, Jared Wagnon and wife, Amanda, Conley Williams and husband, James, Kaitlyn Miles and husband, Matt, Cole Wagnon and wife, Brianna, Seth Garza and wife, Mallory, Anthony Garza, and Adam Garza and wife, Ashleigh; eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Nichols; brother, Larry Wagnon; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many other loving family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jared Wagnon, Cole Wagnon, Seth Garza, Anthony Garza, Adam Garza, James Williams, and Matt Miles. Honorary pallbearers are the Deacons of First Baptist Church and Larry Wagnon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to First Baptist Church Missions Office in Orange or Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.