Raymond John Wagner, 77, passed away after an extended illness on July 15, 2012.

He was born in Brooklyn on January 12, 1935, the elder son of the late Paul J. Wagner Jr. and Elsie (Swinson) Wagner. On February 14, 1951, he met the love of his life, Gloria Anne Moore. They married at Sacred Heart Church, Glendale, NY on November 3, 1956. He is survived by his three children, Bruce Jeffrey (Janet) Wagner, of Castleton, NY, Jeffrey John (Kathy Schultz) Wagner of Paradise Valley, AZ, and Janice Lee (Seth) Cutler of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Brett Clifford and Sarah Moore Wagner, Carlie Swinson Wagner, and Mackenzie Carey and Erin Caroline Cutler. Also surviving are his brother, Robert Richard (Ellen) Wagner of Woodhaven, NY, three nieces, one grand niece, one grand nephew and several cousins.

Ray exhibited academic prowess at an early age, skipping an elementary school grade. He gained admission by competitive examination to Brooklyn Technical High School, a specialized science school, graduating in 1952. Ray was accepted to the full scholarship-only Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, NY, and completed a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1956. Ray then began his career with Socony Mobil Oil Co. in New York City, attended graduate school at night, and earned a Master of Science Degree in 1960 from the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, beginning in 1958 at the Naval Training Center – Great Lakes, until 1966, when he was honorably discharged. In 1965, Ray became employed at IBM, East Fishkill, where he held a variety of engineering and managerial positions until his retirement in 2002. He attended Syracuse University's graduate program in Industrial Engineering from 1966 to 1970, and was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Ray was justly proud of his successful career at IBM, during which he forged numerous life-long friendships and had many fond memories, including his IBM Quarter Century Club recognition in 1990.

He was particularly involved in and dedicated to all of the activities in which his children participated including baseball, softball, basketball, football, track, skiing, scouting, drama, music and dance. Ray continued this level of commitment by forging special bonds with his five grandchildren, each according to his and her gifts and interests, whether it be Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, piano, clarinet, chorus and dance for Brett; softball, chorus, oboe and dance for Sarah; soccer, softball, snowboarding and skiing for Carlie; Irish dance, piano, theater camp, skiing and swim team for Mackenzie; and Irish dance, karate, theater camp, skiing and swim team for Erin. His children, and later, his grandchildren, sought out and benefited from his knowledge and wisdom on many subjects, earning him the nickname "Grandpa Google."

The family would like to thank Jason Rubin, MD, Ariel Fischer, MD, Tammy Donovan, RN, all of the nurses and staff at the Mid Hudson Medical Group, the Dyson Center for Cancer Care, the Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Oncology Care Unit), and Hospice, Inc., who treated, cared for, and supported Ray during his illness, and the many friends and neighbors who provided comfort and companionship.

Relatives and friends may call at the McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, from 2-4 and 7–9 p.m. on Monday, July 16, 2012. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Denis Church, 602 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Denis Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Raymond J. Wagner may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation (Cure Pancreatic Cancer) , 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714, or to the Dutchess County Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk, http://2012dutchesscountywalk.kintera.org or to The Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

For driving directions, online condolences and memorial donations, please visit Ray's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.