Wally Funk, aviation pioneer who was the oldest girl to journey into area, dies at 87

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest girl to launch into area, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday at her residence in an assisted residing facility within the Dallas and Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell mentioned Thursday. O’Dell, who described herself as Funk’s caregiver, mentioned she was by Funk’s facet. Funk had fallen a few occasions not too long ago and had an an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O’Dell mentioned in a cellphone interview.

Funk was one in all 13 feminine pilots who went via the identical assessments as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps within the early Nineteen Sixties however by no means made it into area. In 2021, she obtained her probability aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest particular person to enter area, although the document was later damaged by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They had been each 90.

Bezos selected Funk as an “honored guest” to journey alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.