Wally Funk, a pioneering astronaut and aviation trailblazer, has passed away at the age of 87 in her hometown of Grapevine, Texas. Funk was notably a member of the 1961 “Mercury 13” program, and she realized her dream of space travel at the age of 82 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard in 2021. Her remarkable journey made her the oldest woman to venture into space, and as a flight instructor, she trained over 3,000 pilots throughout her career.
Funk’s death occurred on Wednesday evening, surrounded by her family, as confirmed by the city of Grapevine.
Leaders from Grapevine have expressed their sorrow at her passing, honoring her as a cherished member of the community whose remarkable achievements and kindness created a lasting impact. “Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date,” stated Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell. “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.”
In 2021, Funk realized a lifelong ambition when she traveled to space with Jeff Bezos on Blue Origin’s inaugural human flight. At the time, she boldly declared, “Nothing has ever gotten in my way,” challenging the limitations placed on her based on gender. “They said, ‘Well, you’re a girl, you can’t do that.’ I said, ’Guess what, doesn’t matter what you are. You can still do it if you want to do it and I like to do things that nobody has ever done,” she added, encapsulating her indomitable spirit.
Funk’s contributions to aviation and space exploration date back to the 1960s, where she made significant strides for women in the field. In 1960, she became the first female flight instructor at a U.S. military base. The following year, she was selected as part of the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent the same rigorous training as their male counterparts but were ultimately denied the opportunity to travel to space.
Throughout her career, Funk broke many barriers, becoming the Federal Aviation Administration’s first female field examiner and flight inspector in 1971, and later the first female air safety instructor for the National Transportation Safety Board in 1974. Over her illustrious career, she logged more than 30,000 hours of flight time and has trained thousands of pilots.
In recognition of her significant contributions, Funk was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024, and she is also a member of the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame and the Mercury 13 Hall of Fame. She holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest woman to travel into space, a testament to her extraordinary life and legacy.
