Wheeling where he attended Linsly Military Institute. He was a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University (BA in History), and served in the U.S. Army. After receiving law degrees from the University of Denver Law School (J.D.) and New York University (LL.M), he practiced law in Denver, CO, specializing in tax and business law.

Whit was active in the community, serving on the boards of several local charities, civic and business organizations. An avid outdoorsman and sports fan, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, tennis and golf and was a past member of the Denver Tennis Club, the Arapahoe Tennis Club, the LaGarita Club in Creede, CO and the Hillsboro Tennis Club in Hillsboro, FL. He was on the Exeter basketball and the soccer teams and also on the Yale soccer team.

He is survived by his sons, J. Whitaker Wagner of Los Angeles, California and Jonathan S. Wagner of Bandon, Oregon, grandchildren; Hollis Rhodes Wagner and Otto Whitaker Wagner, and his sister Firth W. Waldon of Florida. Whit is preceded in death by his ex-wife, Judith R. Wagner, parents Nelson W. Wagner and Joan R. Wagner of Wheeling W. Va.