Wanda R. Henderson's Obituary
Wanda Rose HendersonJuly 21, 1933 – October 27, 2017 Born to Andrew Jesse and Ella Leoma Hainline, Wanda lost her birth father at the age of 6 weeks, when he died of lockjaw due to tetanus. This had a lasting impression on Wanda, causing her to be an advocate for keeping tetanus shots current.Wanda and her mother, Leoma, were on their own for approximately a year, moving around and living with various relatives until Leoma met, and subsequently married, Wanda’s daddy, Acton “Ike” Smith, who adopted the little girl – making her his own and loving her completely. Wanda’s sister Sally Lee Smith was born September 13, 1935, completing the Smith family with four.Many were the stories Wanda loved to share of growing up in Michigan and Iowa, of bible camps and school friendships, of boys and girls long ago, of babysitting and traveling, of their family dog “Penny”, and most of all … there were stories of her family … whom she loved fiercely. They never had “much” but they always had “everything” was the way she described her early life.In the first part of 1956, Wanda was attending Business School in Kansas City, MO when she met a handsome young man with a turquoise and white, two-door, ’55 Chevy and it was love at first sight. The laughter comes in the story that she loved the car and took the man, but anyone who met them knew the truth. By October, Lewis LeRoy had asked Wanda’s daddy for her hand in marriage and on December 31st they closed 1956 by uniting in marriage, and entered 1957 hand in hand, beginning a life that continued steadfastly over the following 60 years, 9 months and 27 days.After graduating Business School, the two went to work. Lewis began his 33 year journey with IBM and Wanda began working with Alcoa, a job that, even years later and several different jobs, she looked back on fondly as one of the best places she ever worked … with the exception of the one workplace that claimed her heart and gave her purpose with the birth of her daughter in 1961 … her home. The job title of “Homemaker” was one that was a source of pride and joy for Wanda Henderson, even when it fell out of popularity with younger generations. To the end, Wanda never fully retired from her position of homemaker, even after passing some of the attached duties on to her daughter during her last year.Daughter Lucinda Rose was born in March, 1961 in Kansas City, MO and, when IBM transferred Lewis to New York City, Wanda’s little family were moved to Trenton, NJ. While living in the northeast, in January 1967, Wanda’s heart was overfilled completely with the joy of motherhood when she and Lewis were advised of the birth of the little boy who would become their son, James Andrew. Their little family of four was complete.Over the years, the small family continued to move as IBM transferred Lewis … from New Jersey to Irving, Texas to Edina, Minnesota, back to Irving and then … after both of her children had graduated and “left her nest empty”, she and Lewis moved to the house they designed and built on Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO where they planned to retire and live out their days together. With each new house, Wanda worked tirelessly to create a haven … a refuge … a HOME for her husband, her children, her eventual granddaughters and for all those that would come to visit for a time.Wanda would always argue that she did not have an artistic bone in her body, yet she filled her years sewing beautiful, lasting clothes for herself and her family, canning fruits & vegetables – jams & jellies, decorating each new house with style and comfort, painting ceramics and cross-stitching … not to mention having a very successful cake decorating business, supplying everything from creative children’s birthday cakes to several tiered wedding cakes, from her home for several years.With her children living in other states and forming their own lives, not to mention a beginning to slow down some due to age, Lewis gave Wanda a gift that would bring her unfounded delight and joy during her last 4 years – KeKe Rose. It was love at first sight between Wanda and her little Maltipoo and they were seldom separated. Calm and (mostly) quiet, KeKe was often found nestled next to her “mom” and the rest of the family soon learned the “new hierarchy” … KeKe Rose and then the rest. JThe last couple years had been difficult and life changing for Wanda … first with her suffering a fall that resulted in a partial hip replacement and then another fall, this time her husband Lewis, that resulted in his fracturing his pelvis … then the much anticipated, yet not really wanted, selling of their beloved home of 30 years, followed by a rushed pack & move to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in order to live closer to their daughter, Cindy. While her joy in moving closer to her daughter filled her heart and she was so happy that her son Jim was able to visit more often, due to living closer, she also deeply missed her long-time home in Branson and her church family at Keystone Baptist Church.Home and family … they were where her greatest priority and deep love could be found.Yet, even before her love for her family, first and foremost always was Wanda’s love and faith in her Lord God and His Son, Jesus. Throughout the years, from her earliest memories of Vacation Bible School to her sitting at home and hearing the words of various pastors on television and streaming live online, Wanda held onto that faith steadfastly. In each new city, the first priority for both Wanda and Lewis was to find a church to call home and with each new church there was a sense of family that traveled with them in the form of life-long friends … life-long family In Christ. Wanda also enjoyed, first as a participant and then, in later years in Branson, in various positions of leadership with Christian Women’s Club. Through Sunday School and church, through CWC meetings and bible studies (both as participant and teacher), through daily devotions and prayers at mealtimes … through joy and tribulations … through happiness and sorrow … through periods of human doubt and spiritual delight … Wanda’s faith was something she clung to and shared always.It is that faith that now brings comfort to her family and those who knew and loved her, for there is a surety of her new home … her HOME in heaven … the one her belief in Christ has given her and the one she is awaiting tirelessly to welcome her family and friends when she sees them again. Wanda is survived by her husband Lewis, her daughter Cindy, her son Jim, her three granddaughters – Jordan, Eden & Hannah and her nieces and nephews. There will be a Celebration of Wanda’s Life in the form of a memorial service on Monday, November 6, 2017 at 12:30pm at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The celebration will continue with a gathering of her family and friends at Floral Haven’s Family Center from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. All that loved Wanda are invited … both to the gathering in her honor … and to the home she now occupies in heaven.
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