NAPA - Margaret Jane Wagner passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, two days after her 89th birthday. Margaret was born on Oct. 25, 1920, in Chicago, Ill., and attended YMCA College (now Roosevelt University) where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music, with a major in piano. She was an active folk dancer and traveled to Washington, D.C., to perform.

She married Carl Anton Wagner in 1943 — a marriage that lasted more than 60 years until Carl’s death in 2006.  Margaret taught piano for many years and worked at Ravenswood High School as a secretary in the administration office as well. She was an avid fan of the arts and regularly attended performances by the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet and ACT. She also completed a family history with autobiographical anecdotes, Marge’s Memories. She loved classical music, travel and the great outdoors.

Margaret took great joy in her family. She is survived by four children and their spouses: Jon Wagner and Lynne Hollingsworth of Berkeley, Beatrice and Gregory Graham of Houston, Texas, Paul Wagner and Margaret Clark of Napa, and Barbara Wagner and Santos Morales of Seville, Spain, and eight grandchildren: Alyssa and Reed Wagner, Adrian and Florence Graham, Liz and Estelle Wagner and Daniel and Sara Morales-Wagner.

The family wishes to thank Martha, Elizabeth, Lucy and Raquel for their loving kindness in caring for Margaret.

The memorial service will be held Dec. 28 at the Napa Valley Club. For more information, please contact  wagnerfamily@jcwagner.com.

Contributions in Mrs. Wagner’s name may be made to the Save the Redwoods League or Hospice of Napa Valley.