James E.
Waggoner Jr., an American Episcopalian clergyman and bishop of Spokane from 2000 to 2017, died on February 27, 2026, at age 77. Waggoner served as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane and later became assisting bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada in 2019, serving through March 2021.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and received his Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary. Before his election as bishop of Spokane, he served the Diocese of West Virginia for 21 years, including 12 years in parish ministry and nine years on the bishop’s staff.
James Edward Waggoner Jr., D.D. (1948 or 1949 – February 27, 2026) was an American clergyman of the Episcopal Church, who served as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. In 2019, he became Assisting Bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada and served through March 2021.