dpFunk broke down a decades-old barrier when she went to space in 2021.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — The City of Grapevine has announced the death of Wally Funk, 87.
Funk passed away last night in her Grapevine home, the city said.
Funk, then 82, reached her lifelong dream when she flew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on July 20, 2021, alongside company founder Jeff Bezos.
In a release, the City of Grapevine says “Wally was a beloved Grapevine resident whose extraordinary accomplishments and generous spirit left an enduring legacy. The City of Grapevine proudly recognizes Wally Funk, whose extraordinary career has inspired generations by breaking barriers in aviation and space exploration. Funk continues to serve as a global symbol of determination, perseverance and excellence”
For Funk, the journey was decades in the making. In 1961, she was the youngest participant in the privately funded “Women in Space Program,” later known as the Mercury 13. Neither Funk, nor the other women ever became astronauts because NASA didn’t want women representing America in the space race with the Soviet Union.
Funk was known to break barriers as the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.
Grapevine City Council woman Duff O’Dell adds “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.
