Dory Funk Jr. Dies At 85, All About The WWE Hall Of Famers's Wife, Marti Funk, And Their Children
WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. has died at 85. Here's all about his wife of 40 years, Marti Funk, their five children, and the legendary wrestling icon's lasting legacy.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe wrestling world is mourning the loss of one of its most respected legends. WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. has died at age 85, closing the curtain on a legendary career that spanned more than six decades and inspired generations of pro wrestlers.
His wife, Marti Funk, confirmed his death and said the wrestling legend died in hospice. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, tributes have poured in from across the wrestling community, including WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H, who hailed Funk as a pioneer whose influence stretched far beyond the ring.
Dory Funk Jr.'s wife Marti confirms his death
Marti Funk, who had been married to Dory Funk Jr. for over four decades, confirmed to the Ocala Gazette that her husband died while receiving hospice care. She described him simply as "such a good guy."
Speaking of their marriage, the couple first met in 1980 before tying the knot in 1989. Together, they built a life centered around professional wrestling, co-founding the Funking Conservatory Professional Wrestling School in Ocala, Florida. Over the years, the school became a launchpad for future WWE stars, including Kurt Angle, Edge, Christian, The Hardy Boyz, Mark Henry and Mickie James.
Their relationship was much more than marriage. Dory trained up-and-coming wrestlers in the ring, and Marti’s job was to run the school and keep things going on a day-to-day basis. The couple had two children together and became a popular figure in the Florida wrestling community, making public appearances and telling stories of the legendary Funk wrestling dynasty. Even with Dory’s departure from full-time competition, the couple was dedicated to continuing his family’s legacy with training camps, wrestling seminars, and community events.
Marti was one of Dory’s biggest supporters throughout his career and was right by his side when he continued to wrestle well into his 80s before retiring in 2024. She was also the one who confirmed his passing, ending a marriage that had spanned more than 35 years and a partnership that helped shape generations of professional wrestlers.
Meet Dory Funk Jr.'s children
Away from wrestling, Dory Funk Jr. was a devoted family man and father of five children. Before marrying Marti, he was married to Jimmie Funk from 1960 until their divorce in 1983. The former couple welcomed three children together: Dory Funk III, Adam Dirk Funk, and Penny Funk. Unlike his famous father, Dory Funk III chose a career in medicine and now practices as a physician, while Adam and Penny have largely stayed away from the public eye.
Dory and Marti later welcomed two children together, though they have kept their personal lives largely private. Although most of his children did not pursue professional wrestling, the family's in-ring legacy continued through his grandson, Dory Funk IV, who trained under the WWE Hall of Famer and followed the famous Funk family tradition.
Dory Funk Jr.'s legacy
Born February 3, 1941, Dorrance Earnest Funk was part of one of wrestling’s most famous families. He was trained by his father, the legendary promoter Dory Funk Sr., and made his professional debut in 1963, before going on to become one of the sport's greatest technical wrestlers.
In 1969, Funk Jr. beat Gene Kiniski to capture the prestigious NWA World Heavyweight Championship and would hold the title for over four years, one of the longest reigns in the history of the championship.
Dory Funk Jr., along with his younger brother, Terry Funk (who passed away in 2023), was one-half of one of wrestling’s most iconic sibling duos. The brothers competed across the National Wrestling Alliance, All Japan Pro Wrestling, WWE, WCW, ECW and numerous promotions worldwide before being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame together in 2009. Even after retiring from full-time competition, Dory Funk Jr. continued to work hard to develop the next generation of talent through the Funking Conservatory.
Reacting to the news of his death, former WWE wrestler Triple H, whose real name is Paul Michael Levesque, shared a heartfelt tribute to the late legend. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
"From the Double Cross Ranch to the WWE Hall of Fame, Dory’s style inspired countless performers in our industry. Whether it was at WrestleMania 2, WCW, ECW, or the dozens of NWA-affiliated promotions, his travels across North America and Asia were a part of the early blueprint that helped build this business into a global phenomenon. My thoughts and those of the entire WWE Universe are with his loved ones during this difficult time."
Dory Funk Jr.'s influence on pro wrestling will be felt for years to come!
Image courtesy: WWE, Marti Funk/Instagram, Dory Funk Jr./X
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