Wally Funk, last of Mercury 13 and oldest woman in space, dies at 87

Wally Funk, seen at age 21 as a flight instructor, prior to her joining the First Lady Astronaut Trainees or “Mercury 13.”

Wally Funk/Blue Origin

Wally Funk, seen at age 21 as a flight instructor, prior to her joining the First Lady Astronaut Trainees or “Mercury 13.”

Wally Funk/Blue Origin

Born Mary Wallace Funk on February 1, 1939, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Funk took up an early interest in aviation. She graduated from Stephens College in Missouri with an Associate of Arts degree and her pilot’s license. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Oklahoma State University, while also racking up certificates and ratings, including her commercial, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, instrument, flight instructor, and all ground instructor ratings.