Ruth Marie Thornton Wagner, age 85 of Tyler, Texas went home to be with Jesus on January 22, 2022.   Ruth was the fifth and youngest child born to Melvin Henry and Susie Leo Thornton in a little logging shack in the woods outside Raleigh, Mississippi on October 26, 1936.  She grew up working hard on her family's farm, doing chores and picking cotton.  She graduated Salutatorian of Raleigh High School in 1954.  After graduation, Ruth worked for the First National Bank of Jackson,  Mississippi.   She met the love of her life, Louis "Pinky" Wagner on a blind date.   He was an Air Force pilot stationed at Greenville AFB.  Ruth and Pinky married on September 25, 1959.  They were married for 61 years and had four sons.   They lived an interesting life, living first in Riverside, California and Moses Lake, Washington before moving to the Dallas area in 1965 when Pinky left the Air Force and got a job as an airline pilot for Braniff Airlines.   Ruth loved raising her four boys and was an avid sports fan.   She worked for many years at the Denton County Tax Office in Denton, Texas.   She adored her fourteen grandchildren and two great-grand children.   She loved buying everyone gifts at Christmas and birthdays and playing family games.  

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin Henry and Susie Leo Thornton, her husband Louis "Pinky" Wagner, her sister Mable Thornton, and her brothers J. B. and Bobby Thornton.    She is survived by her brother, Maxie Thornton of Madison, Mississippi, her four sons, Michael and B. J. Wagner of Georgetown, Texas, Dallas and Shelley Wagner of Flint, Texas, Barry and Tami Wagner of Denton, Texas, and Colonel (Alan) Heath and Holly Wagner of Warner Robins, Georgia.    As well as her 14 grandchildren, Tyler Wagner, Tad and Isabel Wagner, Shelby and Austin Feltner, Kasey Jo Wagner, Pepper Wagner, Tara Wagner, Luke and Lauren Wagner, Caleb Wagner, Joshua Wagner, Kendall Wagner, Kade Wagner, Kolt Wagner, Logan Wagner, and Bailey Wagner and her two great-grand children Kambri and Hoyt Feltner.  A memorial service will be held at the Dallas / Fort Worth National Cemetery on February 14, 2022 at 11:00 AM.  In lieu of flowers,  gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Alliance of Smith County.