Flags were lowered to half-staff at Pauls Valley City buildings this week in honor of longtime Pauls Valley Assistant City Manager Don Wageman, who passed away Tuesday.
Wageman served as Pauls Valley’s assistant city manager for 22 years and was well-known throughout the community.
“Don not only worked for the city, but he worked for the people of Pauls Valley and all of Garvin County. He was a true servant leader,” Pauls Valley City Manager Lee Litterell said in a written statement Wednesday. “He was a wealth of knowledge about a lot of things but especially about the city and that will be irreplaceable. He was always teaching employees about the workings of the city. Don was everyone's Grandpa. He loved his family and was extremely proud of them.”
Pauls Valley Mayor Jocelyn Rushing also expressed her gratitude for Wageman’s service to the Pauls Valley community.
“I had the pleasure of working with Don for over 18 years. I will always be grateful for our paths crossing,” Rushing said. “He was always consistent in his demeanor, regardless of the circumstances. Don embodied peace, and I will strive to live and serve the community with the same passion that he displayed.”
Prior to coming to work for the city, Wageman was an active member of Pauls Valley’s business community, serving as the local store manager for a national discount department store chain for several years.
Wageman also served as a reserve officer for the Pauls Valley Police Department for 28 years. Pauls Valley Police Chief Derrick Jolley said even after Wageman’s retirement as a reserve officer in 2021, he remained active and involved with the police department through his position as assistant city manager.
“Don has been a friend and an ally of the police department for a long time. He was an excellent resource and held a wealth of knowledge. You don’t come across someone like him every day. It’s a loss that has hit our department pretty hard,” Jolley said.
Echoing the sentiments expressed by many members of the community who took to social media this week to remember Wageman, former Pauls Valley City Manager James Frizell said, “He was a valuable asset to the city of Pauls Valley for many years. More importantly he was a beloved friend whom I dearly loved and respected. Don was not only my co-worker, but he was also my confidante. We started our mornings with a cup of coffee and that day’s agenda. He will be sorely missed.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 108 Loftin Lane, under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.
