Wally Funk, Pioneering Aviator and Space Traveler, Passes Away at 87
A Life Dedicated to Aviation and Breaking Barriers
Wally Funk the oldest woman to travel – Wally Funk, celebrated as the oldest woman ever to journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere, has passed away. The city of Grapevine, Texas, where she resided in her final years, confirmed her death. She was 87 years old when she died on Wednesday evening, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Funk’s remarkable career spanned more than seven decades of unwavering commitment to aviation. Her path to the stars was not straightforward. During the 1960s, she became one of the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent rigorous testing to determine if they could become astronauts. Despite her qualifications, Funk faced four separate rejections from NASA before the agency ultimately terminated its women’s astronaut program.
Her perseverance eventually paid off in spectacular fashion. On July 20, 2021, at the age of 82, Funk finally realized her lifelong dream of space travel. She joined Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-16 mission alongside Jeff Bezos, the company’s founder. This historic flight earned her a Guinness World Record as the oldest woman to travel to space.
Her Journey to the Stars
Bezos expressed his admiration for Funk’s patience and dedication. In an Instagram post announcing her participation in the mission, he wrote: “No one has waited longer. It’s time. Welcome to the crew, Wally.”
“The launch was so fantastic. You can’t believe it. We learned to sit in and out of our seats a lot. My seat was No. 3. And you have to strap, left, front, this one, this one and be completely buckled in hard,” Funk recalled. “And they would come check and see if it was hard enough, and if it wasn’t hard enough, he would just do it for you. I sat there, and we took off, and it was fantastic.”
The Oklahoma State University graduate was also a proud member of the Flying Aggies team during her academic years. Her spaceflight reached an altitude of 62 miles above the Earth’s surface. Speaking to an audience at OSU’s McKnight Center, Funk shared her impressions: “When we got into space, it was so fabulous. The whole flight was so easy; it was incredible.”
A Legacy of Achievement
Beyond her spaceflight accomplishments, Funk accumulated an impressive collection of pilot certifications throughout her life, many earned at Oklahoma State University. She played an instrumental role in breaking barriers for women in aviation and remained an active member of the Ninety-Nines International Organization for Women Pilots, based in Oklahoma City.
Her professional accomplishments extended well beyond flying. Funk became the first female flight instructor at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. She also served as an inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and worked as an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. According to the City of Grapevine, she trained more than 3,000 pilots while accumulating over 30,000 hours of flight time.
Funk’s contributions to aviation and space exploration have been recognized through numerous honors. She is enshrined in both the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Additionally, she holds the title of Honorary Colonel of Louisiana. Following her death, she will receive a posthumous induction into the International Space Hall of Fame at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
“You have to be your own person. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do,” Funk advised during an Oklahoma State University event celebrating her achievements.
Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell honored Funk’s memory, stating: “Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date. Her courage, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire young people—especially girls—to pursue careers in science, aviation, and space exploration. Grapevine is honored to call Wally Funk one of our own.”
Funeral arrangements for Funk have not yet been announced.
