Wally Funk Dies
Wally Funk, a barrier-breaking aviation pioneer and space traveler, has died at 87.
July 9, 2026 · Updated Jul 9, 8:59pm ET
HuffPostAviation Pioneer Wally Funk, Oldest Woman To Travel Into Space, Dies At 87
CBS NewsWally Funk, a North Texas aviation pioneer, has died. Here's how she broke barriers
New York PostWally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dead at 87
CNNAviation pioneer Wally Funk, who trained as an early female astronaut, dies at 87
ABC NewsWally Funk, aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87
The GuardianWally Funk, aviation pioneer and oldest woman to go into space, dies at 87
Daily BeastLegendary Female Astronaut Dies at 87
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What happened
Wally Funk
Wally FunkAmerican aviator and astronaut (1939–2026), the aviation pioneer who became the oldest woman to travel into space, died Wednesday at age 87 at an assisted living apartment in Grapevine, Texas. Funk volunteered in 1961 for the privately funded Women in Space Program, often associated with the Mercury 13
Mercury 13thirteen American women who underwent testing similar to the astronauts selected by NASA for Project Mercury, but NASA did not select women as astronauts at the time. She later worked as a pilot, flight instructor and air safety investigator. In 2021, she flew on Blue Origin’s New Shepard at age 82.
