Rev. Alvin E. Wagner; Fillmore Church Founder

The Rev. Alvin E. Wagner, founder of Wayfarers Chapel Lutheran Church in Fillmore, died Saturday at his Ventura home. He was 90.

Wagner was born Sept. 29, 1906, in Forest Park, Ill.

After graduating from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Wagner went back to his hometown to assist his father at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he eventually became senior pastor and served from 1929 to 1945, before leaving to work in the Panama Canal Zone for the Armed Services Commission.

After serving in the Canal Zone for two years, Wagner moved to North Hollywood and became pastor of St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church.

During his 24 years as pastor at St. Paul’s, Wagner served on the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, where he was a strong proponent of confessional Lutheranism.

Upon his retirement, Wagner moved to Ventura and founded Wayfarers Chapel Lutheran Church in Ventura and a second chapel in Fillmore. He served at those churches from 1972 to 1988. The churches merged at the Fillmore location in July 1994.

Wagner is survived by his wife of 16 years, Ruth; daughter Kay Ulrich of Ojai; sons Marc Wagner of Mesa, Ariz., and Dr. Luke Wagner of Zushi City, Japan; stepdaughter Jeanne Olenicoff of Laguna Beach; 13 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

Wagner was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen, in 1978, and a daughter, Beth Boltz, in 1987.

Visitation will be today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, and Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel. Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel, with pastor John Schmidt of Wayfarers Chapel officiating.

Contributions in Wagner’s memory may be made to Wayfarers Chapel Lutheran Church, 461 3rd St., Fillmore, CA 93015.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.