She trained for NASA in 1961 but was never sent to space. Decades later, at 82, she finally made it. Wally Funk has died at 87.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (CNN) – Wally Funk, the female pilot who famously went to space with Jeff Bezos as the oldest woman in space and a trailblazer in aviation, has died at the age of 87.

The city of Grapevine, Texas, announced that she died Wednesday night in her home.

Funk was known to break barriers.

She was the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.

FILE – In this 1995 file photo, members of the FLATs, also known as the Mercury 13, gather for a photo. (NASA via AP)(AP)

She trained for NASA’s “Women in Space Program” in 1961, but was never allowed to go to space.

That is, until 2021, when at the age of 82, she flew on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket as an “honored guest.” She was the oldest woman to fly to space.

About the trip to space, Funk said she “loved every minute of it” and wished it had lasted longer.