Diane Marie Wagner

Diane Wagner passed away peacefully with family at her side on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Diane was born on May 19, 1938 in Mandan, ND to Mary “Agnes” (Zahn) and Daniel Weston and was raised in Pacific Palisades, CA. It was there she first gained a passion for engaging other cultures, and learned the Spanish that served her to make life-long friendships while living in Monterrey and Guadalajara, Mexico. She earned a B.A. degree in History and Social Sciences at Mount St. Mary’s University (Los Angeles). At Jesuit-run John Carroll University in Cleveland (where she met her spouse, Bill) she was one of the first-ever women Teaching Assistants while earning her M.A. in History.

Diane spent much of her professional life as a coordinator of graduate interns and volunteers from a myriad of countries and cultures for various non-profit and educational institutions. The experiences she had working at a War on Poverty program under the Office of Equal Opportunity transitioned well to her teaching Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language for the public-school systems. While living in southern New Mexico she helped found the Otero County Self-Help Program. In Boulder, CO, she taught Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language to immigrants at night, including Vietnamese boat refugees who truly became a part of her extended family. For over a decade she worked with international graduate students at the Economics Institute of the University of Colorado Business School. Then in Maryland, from 1994 to 2016 she worked at Cornerstone Montgomery, Inc. (nee St. Luke's House), an agency that provides services for people with serious and persistent mental illness, some with substance abuse problems.

Diane is survived by her spouse of 60 years, Bill, and five children: Paul Wagner of Washington, DC; Mary Jo and her husband Karl Bihn of Saginaw, MI; Peter Wagner and his husband Reynaldo Lobato of Palm Springs, CA; James “Joe” Wagner and his wife Lisa Wagner of Chelmsford, MA; and Steve Wagner of Bethesda, MD. She is also survived by her six grandchildren: John Bihn, Clara Bihn, Sarah Wagner, Brian Wagner, Anna Wagner and Eliška Wagner and her four siblings: her brother David and wife Laney Weston, Mary Baine, Tom Weston, and Jeanie Weston and her husband Mark Maddox.

Diane was the organizer for the whole family including contributing her services for decades as a travel agent, editor, and wise muse when her children needed to discuss their lives. Diane’s interests included, most importantly, enjoying her children and grandchildren, reading, working crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, and Sudoku. At Asbury Methodist Village, she joined groups playing Rummikub and Scrabble, relished the intellectual challenge of these activities, and was admired for assisting fellow gamers. In her last year, Diane volunteered for the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI) teaching ESL to local residents.

A private memorial service will be celebrated in the future. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative.

To make an online donation to GBCI, use this link and select ‘Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative’ in the drop down designation menu: https://www.asbury.org/foundation/donate/asbury-methodist-village/

OR checks can be made payable to: GBCI and mailed to 201 Russell Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Arrangements entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a., 124 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-495-4950, www.interfaithfunerals.com