Sara King Wagenbach

Sara King Wagenbach, a mother to many and a friend to more, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday,

August 13, 2026. She was 93.

She was born Sara Nell King on August 1, 1933 in the small country town of Montezuma, GA, the third

daughter of Florrye (née Pye) and Marshall Blanford King. Florrye (b. 1899, Monticello, GA) was a

homemaker and prominent member of the Montezuma Methodist Church community while Marshall

(b. 1898, Hillsboro, GA) ran a timber crew contracted to work with the Georgia Power Company.

As a young girl, Sara was a popular member of her community and active on her high school

cheerleading squad and girls’ basketball team. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education

from Valdosta State University, which led to a life and career dedicated to educating children. Sara

began teaching in the underprivileged towns of southwest Georgia and later in the tough neighborhoods

around Newark, NJ after she and her best friend, Becky Teasley (née Tyson), moved north in 1959.

Sara and her future husband, George, met through common friends and were later married in Millburn,

NJ on Sara’s 32 nd birthday. As a couple, they enjoyed time with friends and family, travel, and work

before settling in Berkeley Heights, NJ in 1970, shortly before the birth of their son, Stephen. Following a

few years at home, Sara returned to teaching in 1977 at William Woodruff Elementary School in

Berkeley Heights, where she devoted herself to her students for the next 43 years – until COVID forced

her into an “early” retirement at 86 years old. In all, she logged nearly 60 years at the chalkboard, many

of which were focused on her particular strength of helping students with learning challenges.

At home, Sara was an avid reader with a special love for James Herriot’s tales of an English countryside

veterinarian, Agatha Christie mysteries, and poetry. When she wasn’t reading, she could be found

working in her beautiful garden and doing battle with the deer who opposed her there. She found great

joy in the outdoors – walking in the woods, enjoying her backyard, and sitting with friends on her

screened-in porch. But nothing mattered more to her than family – being a mother and grandmother

brought her immense love, happiness, and purpose throughout her life.

Sara was predeceased by her sisters, Rosalind Booth and Anne Coats, (née King) and by her husband of

58 years, George (July 24, 2023), whom she lovingly cared for during his later years. She is survived by

her loving son Stephen, his wife Victoria, and her cherished grandchildren, Colin, Grant, and Russell.

A memorial service celebrating Sara’s life will be held at 11am on Friday, September 11th at the New

Providence United Methodist Church (1441 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ). In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made in Sara’s memory to St. Jude Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Please visit www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com to share condolences with the family.

Obituary posted as a courtesy to the family of Sara Wagenbach.