Wally Funk, Trailblazing Aviator and Space Pioneer, Passes at 87
A Lifetime of Flight Culminates in Space
Wally Funk the oldest woman to launch – Wally Funk, an extraordinary American aviator who realized her childhood aspiration of becoming an astronaut at the remarkable age of 82, has passed away from natural causes. According to official announcements from the city of Grapevine, Texas, she died late on Wednesday evening, July 8. She was 87 years old.
Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in both aviation and space exploration history. Funk’s journey from a young pilot in the 1960s to a space traveler six decades later represents one of the most compelling stories of perseverance in modern American history.
Community Mourns a Local Hero
The city of Grapevine expressed deep sorrow at the loss of one of its most distinguished residents. Duff O’Dell, a Grapevine City Councilwoman, issued a heartfelt statement honoring Funk’s legacy.
“Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date,” Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell said in a statement. “Her courage, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire young people — especially girls — to pursue careers in science, aviation, and space exploration.”
Funk had called Grapevine home for approximately 12 years, residing in the city of roughly 50,000 residents. Her presence in the community was deeply felt, and she was widely regarded as a beloved figure. When she returned from her historic spaceflight in 2021, the city honored her with a celebratory parade that drew crowds of admirers.
The Long Wait for the Stars
Funk’s path to space was anything but straightforward. In the early 1960s, she became one of the Mercury 13, a pioneering group of women who successfully completed the same demanding physiological examinations required of NASA astronauts. Her performance was exceptional—Grapevine officials noted that she ranked among the top performers in the program and even surpassed many male participants on certain tests.
Despite her outstanding qualifications, Funk found herself excluded from the astronaut corps simply because NASA did not accept women as astronauts during that era. The timing could not have been worse for her ambitions, but her determination never wavered.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, reflected on Funk’s remarkable journey in a statement following her spaceflight.
“Wally Funk waited 60 years to get to space, and no one ever earned it more. She trained with the Mercury 13 in 1961, out-tested the men, and was told no anyway,” the Amazon founder turned space entrepreneur said in a statement. “Five years ago this month, I had the honor of flying with her on New Shepard’s first crewed flight. At 82, she was fearless, joyful, and asking to go again before we’d even landed.”
A Career Soaring Through the Skies
Long before reaching space, Funk built an impressive aviation career. She became the first female flight instructor at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, breaking barriers in military aviation education. Throughout her professional life, she trained more than 3,000 pilots and accumulated over 30,000 hours of flight time—a testament to her dedication and skill.
Her credentials extended beyond flight instruction. Funk served as an airline transport pilot, worked as an international aviation expert, and made history as the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. Each role demonstrated her versatility and commitment to advancing women’s participation in aviation.
Space Finally Calls
In 2021, at the age of 82, Funk finally achieved what she had dreamed of for six decades. She joined the crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-16 mission, becoming the oldest person ever to launch into space at that time. Also aboard were Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and Dutch space tourist Oliver Daemen.
Her record as the oldest space traveler was subsequently broken when “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight—the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate—also launched with Blue Origin. Both Shatner and Dwight were 90 years old at the time of their flights.
Blue Origin issued a statement celebrating Funk’s achievement and legacy.
“Her story will continue to inspire generations of future explorers,” Blue Origin added.
A Simple Truth from a Complex Life
When asked about her extraordinary spaceflight, Funk offered a response that captured the essence of her character and her lifelong passion.
In her own words, Funk said simply of her mission: “I loved it … I want to go again, fast.”
Those words, spoken by an 82-year-old woman who had waited six decades for this moment, encapsulate everything that made Wally Funk such an inspiring figure. Her life was a testament to the power of persistence, the importance of breaking barriers, and the truth that it is never too late to reach for the stars.
