William Lee Wagle
formerly of Uniontown
William Lee Wagle passed away Friday, April 10, 2026. He was born in Greencastle, Ind. – the first Wagle born in a hospital – to Ora Wagle, Sr. and Elnora Pauline Wagle. Raised on a farm, he worked alongside his father from age 6, learning the construction trade and a lesson he never forgot: measure twice, cut once. During his senior year, he managed an RCA warehouse before graduating from Cascade High School in Hendricks County, Ind. in 1966.
William married Donna Poteet Wagle Custer following his high school graduation, and they had a son, Richard. She preceded him in death.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966. He served at Fort Benning, Fort Bliss, and Oakdale, where he served on the rifle and pistol team and the professional burial team, escorting fallen soldiers’ home to their families. At a USO dance in Oakdale, he met Patricia Doorley. They were married in 1969. he later served in Korea during the Vietnam War, monitoring enemy aircraft along the border, before being honorably discharged in 1969.
In 1995, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by designing and building Lighthouse Raceway on SR-21, a go-kart track complete with a custom rail system and gate. The track closed in the fall of 1997. He worked in the Pittsburgh steel mills for U.S. Steel before leaving a union job to buy into a young company most people hadn’t heard of yet – Radio Shack. Through the company’s SMIA ownership program, he relocated to Uniontown, built the mall store himself, and operated it until retiring in 2004.
In 2006, the family purchased Ed & Mark’s Locksmith and operated it until the Uniontown location closed in 2018. In 2019, William and Patricia relocated to North Florida. Together, they had three children: Jessica, Aaron and Zachary.
William is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia; his son, Richard Wagle and wife Lindsey; his daughter, Jessica Wagle-Zele; his son, Aaron Wagle and wife Jocylyne; and son Zachary Wagle and wife April; his grandchildren, Angelique, Persephone, Haley, Hayden, Roman, Christle, Abram, Alyssa, Levi, Richelle, Caleb, Issac, Eli, LeEra, Barak, Anna-Lesa; and great- grandchildren, Alaina, Bryson, Liam, Silas, Travis, Freya, Adalai, Lilah, Reese, Brynn and Josiah-Ray.
He is also survived by his sister, Betty Lou Hoffa. He will be sorely missed.
A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, May 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Bethel Baptist Church, 998 Gallatin Avenue Ext., Uniontown, PA 15401. A service will take place at 11 a.m. with lunch served after. To RSVP, text 724-984-4278.
Floral tributes may be sent directly to the church.