Miles Carl Waggoner

Miles Carl Waggoner, a Lab retiree and longtime Livermore resident, died Feb. 26 after a battle with cancer. He was 83.

Born in Ponca City, Okla. on Dec. 9, 1925, to William and Mary Waggoner, he was the youngest of five children. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1943 and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of New Mexico. He served in the Navy twice during World War II. He served in the Army for nearly four years during the Korean War, moving to California after his discharge in 1956.

In California, he met his future wife Nada Slanovec on a blind date. They lived in Cupertino until 1959 and then moved to Livermore where they resided for the next 50 years.

Waggoner worked for Kaiser Aluminum before working as an analytical chemist at the Lab. He retired from LLNL after 25 years at 55.

He is survived by his four daughters, Barby Waggoner of Stockton, Donna Matthew of Tracy, and twin daughters Janine Pinks of Tracy and Nanette Waggoner of Merced, seven grandchildren, one great grandson, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Nada and grandson Daniel Pinks.

Waggoner spent his leisure time and retirement bowling, playing bridge, visiting Tahoe, and taking vacations to New York, Jamaica and an Alaskan cruise.

Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service to celebrate Waggoner’s life on Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Livermore Pleasanton Elks Lodge, 940 Larkspur Drive, Livermore.