As pilots, we are taught to plan carefully, respect the process, and never quit flying the airplane. Few people embodied that spirit more than Mary Wallace Funk, better known as Wally Funk.
For many of us in aviation, the dream of flight begins long before we ever touch the controls of an airplane. For Wally Funk, that dream reached beyond the clouds and all the way to space. While her name may not be as widely recognized as Neil Armstrong or John Glenn, her story is one of determination, resilience, and a refusal to accept “no” as the final answer.
Born in 1939 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk developed a fascination with airplanes at an early age. At a time when opportunities for women in aviation were limited, she pursued her passion anyway. She earned her pilot certificates and quickly established herself as a skilled aviator.
In the early 1960s, Wally became part of the Mercury 13. These women underwent many of the same rigorous physical and psychological tests given to NASA’s Mercury astronauts. Wally excelled, proving she possessed the skill, endurance, and determination necessary for spaceflight.
At the time, however, NASA required astronauts to be military test pilots. Because women were excluded from those roles, they were effectively excluded from the astronaut corps as well.
Most people would have given up. Wally did not.
Instead, she built an extraordinary career as a pilot, flight instructor, aviation safety expert, and educator. Over the decades, she logged thousands of flight hours and inspired generations of aviators.
As someone who entered aviation later in life and followed an unconventional path, stories like these remind me that there is no single route to achieving a dream. Every pilot’s journey is different, shaped by unique challenges, opportunities, and experiences. Wally Funk’s journey may be one of the most powerful examples of that lesson.
Then, in July 2021, at age 82, Wally finally reached space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft.
On July 1, 2021, Blue Origin announced that Funk would fly as one of four passengers on the first New Shepard flight on July 20, 2021. The flight included Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, and 18-year-old Oliver Daemen from the Netherlands, who became the youngest ever person in space during the flight. Nearly six decades after proving she had the right stuff, she crossed the Kármán line and became one of the oldest people ever to travel into space.
Her flight was more than a personal achievement. It was a victory for generations of women who dreamed of aviation and spaceflight and a reminder that perseverance can ultimately overcome barriers that once seemed impossible.
Wally Funk died at her home in Grapevine, on July 8, 2026, at the age of 87.
Wally Funk’s impact on aviation and space exploration will be felt for generations to come. Her determination, courage, and unwavering belief in her dream inspired countless pilots, astronauts, and aviation enthusiasts around the world.
As someone who entered aviation later in life and followed an unconventional path, I find Wally’s story especially meaningful. She proved that perseverance, passion, and purpose can carry us farther than anyone imagines.
Rest in peace, Wally Funk. Thank you for blazing a trail through the skies and ultimately into space. Your legacy will continue to inspire dreamers, pilots, and explorers for generations to come. Blue skies and tailwinds, you earned every mile of the journey.
