Obituary

 OBITUARY

Florine E. "Renie" Wagner Memorial Video

Renie Wagner passed away peacefully at her home in New Oxford on July 2, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was 93 years old. Renie was a pleasant, loving, thoughtful and graceful woman who touched everyone in her path with her beautiful smile and kind nature.

Renie was born in York, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1927 to the late Delbert and Bessie (Peters) Smith. The third of four children, she was born into some tough economic times. She watched her mother and father work tirelessly to put food on the table while her father was laid off from work during the Great Depression. She often told a story describing how her mother baked pies and her father rode his bike in York to sell the pies to his colleagues that were still working at the Hardinge Company. This work ethic was carried throughout her life.  

A graduate of William Penn High School in 1945 she began working for the telephone company as an operator. Having acquired this valuable experience, she marketed these skills to be the first telephone switchboard operator for the Wolf Supply Company. After moving on to be a typist for the S. Morgan Smith Company, she met her husband of over 64 years, Robert Wagner. They were married in 1955 at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. She was the loving and devoted wife of Bob, who passed away on February 15, 2020. They made each other laugh every day.

Although she continued to hold full-time jobs at the York Hospital, York Corrugating Company, Bowen McLaughlin and Raub Supply Company through her life, her real full-time endeavor was as a loving wife, mother and homemaker.  Her husband Bob had a successful career much to the credit of Renie who loved and supported him during their entire marriage.

She was a loving and generous person and there was no better example than the love for her family. She showed her love through acts of service to her family by preparing meals and snacks, baking cookies, babysitting, knitting sweaters, planning activities, taking the grandchildren to countless Utz factory tours and even getting on the floor and playing Twister. She loved to prepare and serve desserts. We will always remember her spice cookies, lemon sponge pies and, of course, the Klondike Bars.

After Renie retired from full-time employment, she took up the sport of golf to spend more time with Bob. They enjoyed the Red Lion Country Club and then they belonged to the Hanover Country Club for over 25 years. Renie was a member of the “Nine-Holers” at Hanover Country Club. While she never really enjoyed golf that much, she did enjoy spending time with her husband and all of the many friends that they met while golfing and travelling.

After Renie and Bob were “empty-nesters” their life revolved around the many life-long close friends. She enjoyed entertaining at her homes in York and Hanover. She especially enjoyed the “Mystery Dinner” parties, New Years’ Eve parties, holiday parties and summer cookouts. There were names for her groups of friends such as the “Elegant Eight” and the “Perfect Ten”.

Renie enjoyed her creative expression through painting and doing crafts with her grandchildren. She especially enjoyed oil painting and many of her paintings will be hanging in her family’s homes and admired for generations to come. In her spare time, she was often engaged in knitting, sewing or crocheting projects.

After moving to Hanover in 1985 she became a very active and loyal member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church where she served on many committees including: Music and Worship, Altar Guild, PAL Lunch, Meals on Wheels, Bereavement Lunches and Senior Singers.  She was a former member of Hanover Art Guild, Hanover Garden Club, and Hanover Country Club. After moving to Cross Keys Village in 2013, Renie made many new friends and enjoyed her new life there.

Renie will be remembered for her love of family, bright beautiful smile, kindness to all, devotion to Bob, creativity and refined style. She will be remembered for her generosity of love and serving her family with her time and energy. Those who knew her know that she would “sweat the details” but it was truly a labor of love. Renie’s family, grandchildren, and friends were very important to her and she loved them dearly. 

Renie is survived by two sons: David Wagner and his wife Laura of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania; Tom Slaney and his wife Elsa, of Laredo, Texas; seven grandchildren: Sarah Becker and husband Jeff of Mechanicsburg; Gracie Wagner and husband Carl Sutherland, of Pittsburgh, PA; Brandon Slaney of East Hartford, Connecticut; Michael Slaney of Laredo Texas; Matthew Wagner, Daniel Wagner, and Carl Wagner of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania; and three great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by one sister, Helen Nease of Cassville, Pennsylvania and numerous nieces & nephews of whom she was very fond. In addition to her parents and husband, Renie was preceded in death by a sister Betty Rohrbaugh and a brother Philip Smith.

There will be no public viewing. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Renie will be held at 11:00 AM on July 15, 2021 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 W. Chestnut St., Hanover with Rev. Faye Snyder officiating. A time to share memories with the family will be on July 15 from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be a private ceremony in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hanover.

Contributions in memory of Renie Wagner may be made to: Cross Keys Village, “Good Samaritan Fund”, 2990 Carlisle Pike New Oxford, Pa. 17350 or St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 W. Chestnut St., Hanover, PA 17331.

To share memories of Renie Wagner and to view a video tribute, please click the "Guestbook" link.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Florine Wagner, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.