Obituary for Bishop Norman L Wagner
Honorable Bishop Norman Leonard Wagner
CANFIELD – The Honorable Bishop Norman Leonard Wagner, 68, was translated into eternal Glory, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Youngstown.
Bishop Wagner was born Jan. 14, 1942 in Youngstown, the second of three sons, born to Leonard and Louise (Carpenter) Wagner.
He was educated within the Youngstown School System. Bishop Wagner achieved academic excellence by obtaining his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Indiana Bible University. He later received his Doctoral Degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Divinity from the Grace Theological Seminary.
He married Rita Helen (Wallace) Wagner on Feb. 15, 1964, and to this union, two daughters were born, Christian Joy and Camille Antoinette.
Bishop Wagner was called to pastor the Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church in March of 1971, where he served faithfully as Senior Pastor for nearly 39 years. Dr. Wagner founded Calvary Christian Academy in 1976, a state-chartered, fully-accredited school in the State of Ohio, initially offering elementary classes. Later, as needed, middle and high school classes were added and in June of 1983, Calvary Christian Academy of Higher Learning celebrated its first graduating class. The school operated for 25 years. In 2001, Bishop Wagner opened Legacy Academy for Leaders & the Arts, a charter school serving the Youngstown community.
Bishop Wagner’s concern for a senior citizen’s complex propelled Mt. Calvary to build and manage Calvary Estates (Calvary Towers), a $3.2 million, 7-story, 70-unit apartment complex. He served as Executive Director of Tel-A-World Ministries, an in-house production company.
In 1992, Bishop Wagner and the Mt. Calvary Concert Choir produced their first recording, “Best For Last.” Their next release, “Excellent,” was No. 3 on the Billboard’s gospel charts for 39 weeks.
Bishop Wagner, known worldwide for his exemplary organizational and leadership ingenuity, established an Annual Leadership Conference, “Pentecost In Perspective” in 1985.
Bishop Wagner was the former Presiding Prelate of the 1.3 million member organization, The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., in which he served two consecutive terms from 1998 to 2004. He served as Diocesan Bishop of the European Council of Nations for 20 years and at the time of his passing was serving as Diocesan of the 13th Episcopal District of Texas.
His memory and love will be cherished by his devoted wife of 45 years, Dr. Rita H. Wagner of Canfield; two daughters, Christian Joy Wagner of Canfield and Camille Antoinette Wagner Barnes (Kent Barrett Jr.) of Austintown; and one granddaughter, British Milan of Canfield.
He also leaves to mourn two brothers, Arnold J. Wagner and Mervin (Yvonne) Wagner, both of Youngstown, and the entire Wagner, Wallace and Carpenter families, a host of nieces, nephews, spiritual sons and daughters, as well as the Mt. Calvary Church family, the European Council of Nations and the Texas Council and the entire Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
Friends may call Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Covelli Center. Funeral services will follow immediately at 11 a.m.
Arrangements entrusted to the L.E. Black, Phillips and Holden Funeral Home.