Wanda Novell Watkins Einan's Sunset Gardens

Wanda N. Watkins passed away peacefully on September 25 after 10 terrible years of Alzheimer's. She was a special lady; a sweet and caring person who liked everyone and everyone liked her. She treated everyone the same regardless of their status, color, or anything else. We will miss her warm smile and pleasant demeanor. She was born July 29, 1934 in Turlock. CA to Everett and Clarice Smalley. She attended grade and high school there and graduated in 1949. Shortly thereafter she moved to Redondo Beach and worked there at General Telephone for 3 years. She met and married her husband Jim in January 1955. They shared 59 happy years together living in Fair Oaks, CA, Torrance, CA, Lynchburg, VA and Richland and Pasco, WA. She continued to work as a PBX operator for Aerojet in Sacramento until they moved to Torrance where their wonderful daughter Sheryl was born in 1961. Thereafter for about 16 years she devoted herself to being a wonderful mother and home maker. In 1964 her second joy was born; a son Mark. Her family was complete. When the kids entered high school she decided that housework was getting too boring so she re-joined the work force and took a job with Keystone Pizza. Within a few months she sought better employment and was hired as a clerk in the Personnel Dept. of UNC. She worked there and at Westinghouse for approx. 18 years till she retired in 1994. The children were grown so she and Jim decided to enjoy life. They purchased a used Winnebago and proceeded to tour the US for 18 months. After that they enjoyed trips to Mexico, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Netherlands, the Caribbean, Belize, China, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand and Egypt. Around 2000 Wanda started exhibiting worrisome mental signs. So in 2005 they upgraded their motor home and started wintering in Arizona where she could receive proper diagnosis and care. Diagnosis confirmed the worst fears. After 4 years they gave up their home in Apache Junction, AZ. Care for Wanda became more and more difficult so on January 8, 2010 she was committed to the care of the Callaway Gardens. This was an unbelievable hard thing but there was no other choice. After 2 years we moved her to Guardian Angel Homes in Richland which took excellent care of Wanda until the end.

Wanda is preceded in death by her parents Everett and Clarice Smalley. She is survived by her husband Jim; her two children and spouses Mark Lara Watkins and Sheryl Mark Rogers. She is also survived by her older sister Darlene and many loving friends and relatives. She leaves 7 grandchildren, David, Bryan, Kevin, Devon, Nick, Lauren, Kyle, and 5 great-grandchildren; Ryan, Sage, Dawson, Kaleb and Kaitlyn.

A Memorial Service will be held at Events at Sunset on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer's Association through their website or send a check to P.O. Box 96001, Washington, DC 20090-6011.