Wally Funk, Oldest Woman To Travel To Space, Dies At 87 In Texas

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – American aviation pioneer Wally Funk has died at the age of 87 in Grapevine, Texas. A city spokesperson confirmed that Funk died on Wednesday at her home from natural causes, surrounded by her loved ones.

Funk made history in 2021 when she travelled to space at the age of 82 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. The flight placed her in the record books as the oldest woman to reach space, marking a long-awaited achievement after decades of involvement in aviation and space-related training.

She joined Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the Blue Origin flight, becoming one of the passengers on the company’s journey to the edge of space. Blue Origin later paid tribute to Funk, saying the company was honoured to have been part of her journey.

Before her spaceflight, Funk had already built a remarkable career in American aviation. She became the first woman appointed as an air safety investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, and also served as the first female instructor at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Funk was also part of a 1960s training programme for women who hoped to fly to space. Although she completed the programme, she was never selected for an official space mission at the time. Her eventual flight in 2021 was widely seen as a powerful moment of delayed recognition for her persistence and lifelong commitment to aviation.

Grapevine City Council member Duff O’Dell, a close friend of Funk, described her determination as proof that dreams have no expiry date. O’Dell also said Funk’s achievements had become a source of pride for Grapevine, a city in the Dallas area with a population of about 51,000.