Wanda Ruth Ward

Wanda Ruth Ward, 89, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Graham with family by her side. Funeral service will be held Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 2 p.m. in Morrison Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in True Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home.  

Wanda was born March 13, 1935 in Graham to the late Horace Wayne and Mildred Lois (Ward) Willis. She was Baptized at First Baptist Church in Graham and was a faithful member of Oak Street Baptist Church in Graham. 

Wanda was born in her grandparents’ house at Rocky Mound, Young County. She enjoyed attending the Rocky Mound Annual Reunions over the years. She graduated from Graham High School in 1953 and married David Ward one month later. Right after marrying, she worked for the United States Selective Service Draft Board in the Young County Courthouse. She remembered putting many young men on a bus headed for Boot Camp and little piece of her heart went with each one. After Selective Service closed in Graham, she was employed with Graham Medical Clinic, now Graham Medical Associates for fifteen years and made lifelong friends there. Even after leaving, she would meet with her clinic friends often for lunch. She was employed with Hexcel Corporation in Human Resources for over 15 years until the plant closing. She made many friends there as well and received calls from them after the Hexcel plant closing for help with their insurance. She finished her “outside of the home” career working for Fred Gough managing his livestock hauling business. Mom also worked inside the home her whole married life keeping books for Dad’s livestock hauling business as well as keeping up with their farm and ranch business.  

She was beloved by all who knew her and especially her large family. She was the best and sweetest Mom, Granny and Aunt Wanda. She adored her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her great-great granddaughter Monroe Jean Manning. She also adored all of her sister-in-laws and all her nieces, nephews and cousins. She had many wonderful stories to tell of growing up with her brothers Butch and Gene and was surprised and honored to have a baby sister Kay born on her twentieth birthday. She reminisced about her family in the last eight weeks and they were happy memories. She loved the Willis and Ward Reunions.  

Survivors include: daughter, Carla Herndon and husband, Curtis of Graham; son, Robert Ward and wife, Jamie of Olney; brother, Gene Willis of Ravenna; grandchildren, Richard Herndon and wife, Kimberly of Plano, Stewart Herndon and wife, Kelli of Norman, Oklahoma, Tara Hanley of Graham, Heather Nugen of Graham, Amber Poirot and husband, Kyle of Wichita Falls, Sadie Snow of Graham, Ethan Snow and wife, Adela of Bowie, Sarah Snow of Graham, Michael Ward of Spokane, Washington, Hagen Ward and wife, Taylor of Fort Worth, Savannah Ward of Fort Worth, Logan Burrows of Olney, Kalli Ward of Denton, Keegan Plunket of Paradise, Morgan Plunket of Olney, and Carson Ward of Olney, 24 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Ward, parents, brother, Butch Willis, sister, Kay Willis Copeland, daughters, Carol Ward and Julie Snow, son, Steve Ward, and granddaughter, Heather Self.  

Thanks to Dr. Pat Martin and his team for caring for her these many years and to the wonderful Solaris Hospice team for caring for her these last weeks.  

Donations may be made to the Dean Allen Willis Foundation, P. O. Box 1046, Perryton, Texas 79070 or your charity of choice.  

Visitation will be held Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.