On Sunday, 26 March 2023, Rudolph Dwayne Wagner, known as Rudy to family and friends, passed away at the age of 61. Rudy was born 11 May 1961 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Marvin Hollis Pope and Bessie Ruth Rowe. At a very early, his father passed away. His mother remarried in 1962 to Charles Elmer Wagner who adopted Rudy and his two older siblings, Kenneth Michael and Terri Yolande. The family then relocated from Tennessee to Ft Belvoir, Virginia. After the birth of his baby brother, Charles Elmer Wagner Jr, the family relocated to Woodbridge, Virginia where all four siblings were raised and attended school from elementary school at Rippon Elementary and Middle School and graduated from Gar-Field High School in 1979. During his formative years, Rudy engaged in all kinds of sports to include little league baseball, basketball and football, focusing of wrestling and football during high school.

      After graduating high school, Rudy joined the US Marine Corp. After his time in the Marines, he focused on honing his trade in the construction arena. His expertise in construction allowed him flexibility to travel all over the country with his longtime friend, Keith Harrison. On 7 Aug 1994, he fathered a daughter, Crystal Amber Wagner. 

      Rudy was proceeded in death by his biological father, Marvin Hollis Pope, his step-father, Charles Elmer Wagner Sr, his maternal grandparents, Willie Fred Rowe and Nellie Ruth Rowe, his paternal step-grandparents, Pink Elmer Wagoner and Annie Gladys Wagoner and Retha Russ, half-sister Cheryl Lynn White, half-brother Charles Elmer Wagner Jr,step-sisters Johnetta Manning and Zephyr Wagner, step-nephew, Ricky Blaylock and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his mother, Bessie Ruth Wagner, brother Kenneth Michael Wagner (Helen), sister, Terri Yolande Smith (Keefe), sister-in-law, Kelly Hessig-Wagner, step-sister, Jaquelyn Blaylock (Charles), daughter, Crystal Amber Wagner-Smith, grandson, Kahlil Joe’el Williams, several aunts and uncles and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.