Wally Funk, a pioneering aviator who was denied the chance to become a NASA astronaut but later became the oldest woman to travel into space, has died at the age of 87. She passed away peacefully on the evening of July 8, 2026, at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Texas, according to city councilwoman and close friend Duff O’Dell, who was by her side.

Funk had recently suffered several falls and battled an infection in her leg, which took a toll on her health. The city of Grapevine honored her as a beloved resident whose extraordinary accomplishments and generous spirit left a lasting legacy.

Born on February 1, 1939, Funk dedicated over seven decades to aviation. She earned her flying license at Stephens College in Missouri and pursued education studies at Oklahoma State University, drawn by its aviation team, the Flying Aggies. Reflecting on her time there, she said in 2019, “As a Flying Aggie, I could do all the manoeuvres as well as the boys, if not better.”

Although Funk was rejected by NASA during the era when she sought to become an astronaut, she ultimately fulfilled her lifelong dream by flying on a Blue Origin spaceflight in 2021, becoming the oldest woman to reach space at that time. Her record was later surpassed by actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, who went to space at age 90 in 2021 and 2024 respectively.

After her historic flight, Funk expressed her enduring passion for space exploration: “I’ve been waiting a long time to finally get it up there, and I’ve done a lot of astronaut training through the world – Russia, America – and I could always beat the guys on what they were doing because I was always stronger and I’ve always done everything on my own. I want to go again, fast.”

O’Dell praised Funk’s determination and impact, stating, “Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date. Her courage, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire young people – especially girls – to pursue careers in science, aviation, and space exploration.”