Ruth V. Wagner

Ruth V. Wagner, age 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 17, 2026. She was born and raised in Lodi, NY where she lived her entire life. Ruth graduated from Ovid High School as the valedictorian in the class of 1948. She was known for her hard work on the farm, and for helping to establish Wagner Vineyards with her former husband, Stanley “Bill” Wagner. She had also worked for Dr. Duthie, DDS in Ithaca as a receptionist, served on the South Seneca School Board and at one time, as a member of the Lodi Methodist Church, played the historic Hook Tracker pipe organ, and later a member of the 20th Century Club of Ovid. She was a voracious reader and was always hungry to read about and learn new things, she was an avid gardener and took great pride in her many flowerbeds. Ruth also loved quilting, antiques and local memorabilia - anything that pertained to local history, especially from Lodi, Ovid, Interlaken, Valois and Hector, and was a frequent contributor to the Lodi Historical Society newsletters. She lived for extended family get togethers where she got to see all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as the matriarchal anchor of the Wagner family.

She is survived by her three children, Laura Wagner-Lee, Stephen Wagner, John (Debra) Wagner; her six grandchildren, Virginia “Ginny” (Adam Shaffer) Lee, Stephen Lee, Kevin (Cassandra) Lee, Ian (Kelsey) Wagner, Hayden Wagner and Adam Wagner; her seven great grandchildren, Easton, Everlee, Bridger, Taliah, Athena, Kit and Reid; her sister, Harriet Wagner, as well as many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her son in law, Robert Lee; three brothers, John, David and Stanley VanVleet and by her former husband and the father of her children, Stanley “Bill” Wagner.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Ruth’s life from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Ginny Lee Café at Wagner’s. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in her memory to the Lodi Historical Society, PO Box 279, or the Lodi Whittier Library, PO Box 208, Lodi, NY 14860. The family would like to express their gratitude to the entire staff at Seneca View Nursing in Montour Falls for their wonderful and loving care that they provided at the end of her life.