Wanda Inez Robertson Wylie

Wanda was born in Kenedy, Texas on February 11, 1926 to (Ena) Inez and S.V. “Bob” Robertson. The family moved to Taylor where her father was an engineer at the cotton compress. After moving, Wanda became a big sister when brother Ray and sister Betty Ann were born. She attended Taylor schools and graduated from Taylor High in 1943. Wanda went to Durham Business College and graduated with secretarial training, subsequently working her way through the University of Texas at Austin and earning her B.A. in Journalism in 1948 after which she worked for historian Walter Prescott Webb.

Wanda met her future husband Billy in January of 1950 and they married June 3rd, 1950. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 3rd, 2010.

After being a wonderful stay-at-home mother for many years, Wanda returned to the workforce in 1976 as a tax examiner for the IRS. She made many friends and enjoyed the challenges of her twenty years there, retiring from service in 1996.

Because she loved her house and neighborhood, Wanda preferred not to travel far from home. She was passionate about genealogy, and did extensive computer research about both sides of the family. Wanda embraced technology, texting with her children and grandchildren and joking about how far she had come since the days of radio. She was avidly interested in national and world politics. Wanda was known for her intelligence, independence, and dry wit. She was a life-long Methodist and had been a member of the University United Methodist Church since 1950. Wanda also loved fishing, making and flying kites, and gardening.

Living through the Great Depression and World War II taught her the value of resiliency. Wanda possessed great wisdom and life experience and was a respected family advisor. Like many women of her generation, she was industrious and able to withstand life’s challenges with strength. She said often in the last weeks of her life that she did not have regrets and that she was glad about the variety of things that she had experienced.

Wanda is survived by her husband Billy B. Wylie of Austin, daughter Clare Wylie Holley and son-in-law Edwin Holley of Austin, son Kenton Wylie and daughter-in-law Margot of San Antonio, grandchildren William and Daryl Wylie and Chasity Delgado all of San Antonio, brother Ray D. Robertson of Austin, brother-in-law John Dudgeon of Cedar Park, sister-in-law Dorothy Watson of Henderson, Texas; nieces and nephews: Linda Ewan and husband Robert of Round Rock, (Patrick) Hardy Dudgeon of Leander, John J. Dudgeon and wife Karen of Liberty Hill, Alice Reynolds of Leander, (Hugh) Bob Wylie and wife Gay Nell, Stan Wylie and Susan of Houston, Diane Wylie Smith of Houston, Elizabeth Moore and husband Jerry of Henderson, Sue Strong Hughes and husband Joe of Montgomery, Don Shumate and wife Lorene of Seguin, Charles Shumate and wife Lois of Seguin, (Fred) Terry Shumate and wife Donna of Longview, Steve Holt and wife Susan of Little Rock, Mary Holt and husband William “Bill” Snider of New Orleans, Ted Ping and wife Pat of McKinney, Tony Ping and wife Mary Beth of Houston, Tim Ping and wife Catherine of Houston, Scott Watson and wife Cheryl of San Antonio, Joe Johnson, Ben Cadenhead, forty-four grandnieces and grand nephews, and twenty-six great-grand nieces and great-grand nephews. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents, (Ena) Inez and Solomon Vinyard “Bob” Robertson, her sister Betty Ann Dudgeon, and eight of her husband’s sisters and brothers and their spouses: Ross Wylie, Robert and Anna Lou Wylie, Otis and Opal Wylie, Cora and Chester Duran, Mamie and William Mozel Strong, Janie and Fred Shumate, Ouida and Grady Holt, Grace and Harmon Ping, and Walter Ray Watson; two nieces, Jo Nan Johnson and Kay Strong Cadenhead; and a grandnephew, Jay Johnson.

At Wanda’s specific request, no formal services will be held. Her cremains will be interred at a future date in her husband’s family cemetery in Pine Hill, Texas. Wanda requested that those who knew her take a moment to remember a time you shared with her and to know that she cared for you in return; to buy a flower for a friend, fly a kite, or do a good deed in her honor.

The family extends thanks to Hospice Austin, to RN Case manager Mary Ellen Clifford, and to the staff and physicians at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House.