Wally Funk Age, Wiki and Bio

Quick Info

Profession	American Aviator, Commercial Astronaut
Nationality	American
Date of Birth	01/02/1939
Age	85 years
Birthplace	Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States

Bio/Wiki

Full name	Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk

Physical Stats & More

Height	170 cm
Eye Color	Hazel Brown
Hair Color	Gray

Educational Qualification(s)

Associate of Arts degree	Stephen’s College
Bachelor of Science degree	Oklahoma State University

Personal Life

Date of Birth	01/02/1939
Age (as of 2023)	84 Years
Birthplace	Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States
Zodiac sign	Aquarius
Hometown	Taos, New Mexico, United States
School	Taos, New Mexico
College/University	Stephen’s College in Columbia, Missouri, Oklahoma State University
Hobbies	Riding Bike, Horse Riding, Hunting, Fishing

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Unmarried

Family

Children	None

Career

Flying Experience	19,600 hours
Time in space	10 mins. 18 sec.
Selection	Blue Origin
Mission	NS-16
Awards, Honours, Achievements	At the age of 14, President Dwight Eisenhower sent her a letter of appreciation, after the National Rifle Association praised about her shooting results. In 1964, Stephen’s College honoured her with the Alumna Achievement Award. Received “Outstanding Female Pilot” trophy, the “Flying Aggie Top Pilot” and the “Alfred Alder Memorial Trophy” at Oklahoma State University (OSU). In 1965, she was listed as one of the “Outstanding Young Women in America. In the 1960s, Funk was listed in “Who’s Who in Young Women in America” and “Who’s Who in Aviation.” In 1968, she earned Airline Transport Rating, becoming the 58th woman in the United States to achieve this. In 1975, she was named Honorary Colonel by the Governor of Louisiana. In June 2010, she was inducted into the Oklahoma State University’s Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2017, her name was inscribed on the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Wall of Honor.

Some Lesser Known Facts

Wally Funk is an American aviator and commercial pilot recognized as the oldest person to fly into space on July 20, 2021, during a suborbital trip with Jeff Bezos and two others.
She holds significant flying experience with 19,600 hours logged, boasting various aviation records, including being the first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.
In the 1960s, Funk was part of the "Mercury 13" program aimed at training women for potential space missions, where she was the youngest member.
Throughout her career, Funk has trained over 3,000 individuals to fly various aircraft types, assisting pilots in different certifications and ratings.
Born in Taos, New Mexico, Funk spent most of her childhood there, where her parents operated a series of shops.
From a young age, Funk developed a passion for aviation, often crafting model planes from balsa wood.
Wally Funk chose not to marry during her lifetime.