Happy 100th Birthday, Grandpa Wagner!

Lawrence was born on October 10,1909 in Sarcoxie, Missouri to Leota Mael and George Wilford Wagner. He was the oldest child of his 3 brothers and one sister. His nickname was Lanky because he was six foot three and very thin.

He met Vivian Cocke when he was a senior in high school and she was a sophomore. After he graduated from high school, his younger brother, Ernest, took his love letters to give to Vivian. She would send a reply to Lanky through Ernest. After Vivian graduated from high school, they were married on June 1, 1930 in Dilley, Texas.


Lawrence had three children with Vivian. Gerald Lawrence was born on June 22, 1933.

Laverne Jean was born on July 18, 1938.

Mary Ann was born on December 3, 1944.

He has lived in Missouri and Texas. He liked to tease his family by singing "Goodnight, Irene." His daughter, Laverne, informed us that he can not sing. His favorite hymns are "In the Garden" and "The Old Rugged Cross".

Lanky and Vivian celebrated their 5oth Anniversary in 1980. They were married 67 years before he lost Vivian in 1997.

Lawrence has seven grandsons and one granddaughter. He has 19 great grandchildren. He continues to call each one on their birthday and anniversaries.

All the grandchildren enjoyed spending the summer at Grandpa Wagner's house. He let the boys drive his truck, made camps for them to spend the night in the field, took them to eat at Johnny's, and fixed frozen orange cubes from his orange trees .

He let the boys work in his store running the cash register, weighing out feed, and unloading the trucks. They had a great time playing on the dollies, swimming in the corn bin, and drinking lots of soda.

Lawrence worked for Clarke Feed and Seed in McAllen as a newly wed. Next, he and his father bought a feed store in Pharr. They named it Wagner's Farm Store. After that, he worked for Hale Hardware in Pharr.

We love you, Grandpa Wagner!