Wally Funk, aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

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Funk died Wednesday at her apartment in an assisted living facility in the Dallas and Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell said Thursday.

O’Dell, who described herself as Funk’s caregiver, said she was by Funk’s side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.