Orvin Edson Wagner

WAGNER — Orvin "Ed" Edson, 87; born Jan. 23, 1930, Los Angeles, Calif.; died Sept. 2, 2017, at Royale Gardens Nursing Home in Grants Pass, Ore. Surviving: wife, Claudia (Eells); sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond and Jennifer Wagner, Grants Pass; Michael Wagner, Eagle Point, Ore.; Darrell and Stephanie Wagner, Isanti, Minn.; daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly (Wagner) and Randall Garver, Tyler, Texas; Dianne Wagner, White City, Ore.; Susan (Wagner) and James Dietel, Rockland, Wis.; Sharon (Wagner) Stiverson, McMinnville, Ore.; brother and sister-in-law, Delmer and Evelyn Wagner, Rogue River, Ore.; sister, Elaine Johnson, Idaho Falls, Idaho; 12 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren.

Orvin “Ed” Edson Wagner was born to Edward Benjamin and Mary Esther (May) Wagner.

Ed was married to Doris Joan Byram on Aug. 23, 1953, in Portland, Ore. Their children are Dianne, Darrell, Susan and Sharon. Ed and Doris were divorced in 1976.

He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1955 to 1957, and was honorably discharged.

On Aug. 12, 1977, he married Claudia Eells in Carson City, Nev. Their children are Raymond, Michael and Kimberly.

He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1968 with a Doctorate in Physics, where he obtained a patent for his work on semiconductor materials and did post doctorate work at Oakridge National Laboratory. He taught Physics at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for five years, and taught science and electronics at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass.

Ed conducted studies in wave behavior in plants wat Wagner Research Lab. He published two books and numerous papers in scientific magazines, and holds a patent on his latest work.