"For now we see dimly, like through blurry glass, but then . . . face to face.  Now we know only in bits and pieces, but then we will know fully, as we have been fully known."

The Apostle Paul, AD 54

(1 Corinthians 13:12)

On January 2, 2023 at approximately 1 pm at his home in Cabot, Arkansas, David Hodge Wagnon closed his eyes in death and immediately experienced the warm breath of the love of God, opening his eyes to the face of his Creator . . . gleaming eyes and a proud smile. Many things can be said of David Wagnon, but only one is needed: he is home. He is where he always wanted to be. He spent the vast majority of his life earnestly looking through blurry glass, yearning to fully know his Savior Jesus Christ . . . to see him face to face. What was only a longing is now his ongoing, unbroken, constant reality. He is with God himself, the Champion of Heaven, standing strong among the community of those who have gone before him.

David Hodge Wagnon was born in Camden, Arkansas on August 19, 1946 to Odell and Ernestine Wagnon. As a boy, his family moved to Little Rock where he grew up and was a standout football player at Central High School. After playing two years for the Arkansas State Indians he moved back to Little Rock and joined the Army National Guard and served his country honorably. He also began working for Southwestern Bell (AT&T), where he diligently worked in various capacities for 44 years. Soon after he began working for Southwestern Bell he met Jerry Lu Critz at a friend's wedding and fell in love with her and her big, crazy family. Then in May of 1972 at 25 years of age, and through the experience of the Critz family's love and devotion to Christ and one another, David surrendered his life and came to faith in Jesus, beginning his 50-year journey of discipleship.

Soon after David and Jerry Lu married they began having kids and joined a young married Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Little Rock. Through the influence of men like Carl Wenger and John Wright, and the cassette tape ministries of the Navigators and Campus Crusade for Christ, David's budding faith began to grow. Recognizing his God-given ability to teach, Dennis Redmon asked him to begin teaching Sunday School, which he did for the rest of his life. Through his Sunday School ministry and his subsequent discipleship groups, David taught the Scriptures, mentored, and led hundreds of people into a deeper walk with Jesus.

Aside from his devotion to Jesus, David's top priority was his family. He often said, "The two best things that have happened to me are Jesus Christ and Jerry Lucile . . . in that order!" The two were faithfully married for over 48 years, had four children, and fourteen grandchildren, whom he adored. He is survived by wife: Jerry Lu, children: Hodge, John, Nathan, and Holly, grandchildren: Trey, Brenna, Luke (Hodge and Beth Wagnon); Hannah, Abigail, Rebekah, Noah (John and Kara Wagnon); Nate, Miles, Jules, Joy (Nathan and Margaret Wagnon); Allie, Annie, Adeline (John Paul and Holly Rhodes), and brother (Bill). He is preceded in death by his parents, Odell and Ernestine Wagnon, and his brother, Larry.

David's Celebration of Life will take place at 10 am on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at First Baptist Church: 204 N. 3rd Street, Cabot, AR 72023. A time of visitation with the family will immediately follow in the Commons area.

To honor the celebratory nature of this service, please refrain from wearing black clothing.

For those unable to attend, the service will be streamed online at http://fbccabot.org/watchlive .

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a donation in David's honor to the First Baptist Church Foundations for the Future Fund: http://fbccabot.org/give . Under "Fund," select "Foundations for the Future."

You fought the good fight. You finished the race. You kept the faith. Well done.