Full Breakdown
Wally Funk, Aviation Trailblazer and First Mercury 13 Woman to Reach Space, Dies at 87
7/12/2026, 10:51:15 AM
Death and Immediate Circumstances
Wally Funk died in an assisted-living facility in Grapevine, Texas, at age 87. Her longtime caregiver and Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell said Funk had suffered several recent falls and a leg infection that “took its toll.” Sources differ on the exact date of death: NBC News and UniverseToday report June 8, 2026, while AviationToday lists July 8, 2026.
Early Career and Mercury 13 Involvement
Born Mary Wallace Funk in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1939, she earned her pilot’s license as a teenager and flew for Oklahoma State University’s “Flying Aggies.” In 1961 she became the youngest participant in the privately funded Woman-in-Space program run by Dr. William Randolph Lovelace II, later dubbed the Mercury 13. Thirteen women completed the same physiological and psychological tests given to NASA’s Mercury 7 astronauts, but the program was never sanctioned by NASA and was cancelled amid “doubts” about women’s participation.
Historic Blue Origin Flight
On July 20, 2021, Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-16 mission launched from Van Horn, Texas, carrying Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Dutch student Oliver Daemen, and Funk. At 82, she became the oldest person ever to travel to space at that time and remains the oldest woman to do so. The sub-orbital flight lasted about ten minutes, crossing the internationally recognized Kármán line before returning safely.
Data and Records
- Age at spaceflight: 82 years (oldest person then; later surpassed by William Shatner and Ed Dwight).
- Flight-hour estimates range from 19,000 to 30,000 hours, reflecting differing source calculations.
- Trained more than 3,000 pilots and logged over 30,000 hours of flight time according to city officials.
- Guinness World Records listed her as the oldest woman to reach space.
Official Tributes
Blue Origin posted on X that Funk was “a pioneer in every sense of the word” and expressed humility at being part of her journey. The City of Grapevine’s Facebook tribute called her a “beloved resident” whose “extraordinary accomplishments and generous spirit” left an enduring legacy. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also posted a tribute on X, praising her perseverance and wishing her “Godspeed.” Councilwoman O’Dell described Funk as “the most eternally optimistic person” she had ever met and highlighted her role in inspiring young people, especially girls, to pursue science and aviation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” — Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator
- “She was told by many, many, many men, ‘No, you can’t do this. No, you can’t do that.' And she never got mad about it. She just was more determined.” — Duff O’Dell, Grapevine City Councilwoman
- “I didn’t think I’d ever get to go up,” — Wally Funk, Blue Origin video interview
- “I’ve been waiting a long time,” — Wally Funk, post-flight remarks reported by Reuters
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- Date of death: June 8 vs. July 8, 2026.
- Flight-hour totals: Reported as 19,000 hours, 19,600 hours, and “over 30,000 hours” across sources.
- Exact cause of death: All sources cite complications from falls and a leg infection, but no medical details are provided.
Legacy and Impact
Funk’s life spanned seven decades of aviation breakthroughs: first female FAA inspector, first female air-safety investigator for the NTSB, and the only Mercury 13 member to reach space. Her persistence transformed public perception of women’s roles in aerospace, providing a tangible example that “dreams have no expiration date.” Her story continues to motivate aspiring pilots and astronauts, reinforcing ongoing efforts to broaden gender inclusion in STEM fields.
