Wanda Jean Wolford

Wanda Jean Wolford, a long time resident of the Antelope Valley, still of sharp mind and sound spirit, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Friday, April 22, 2016 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Panorama City due to complications of her chronic pulmonary fibrosis.

Wanda was born on June 26, 1925 in Oklahoma, the second born child of four of Mark and Auda Phillips. She found her resilient strength in her early childhood when she endured our cruel and unsympathetic Great Depression on that dust-blown prairie state to which she was born. It was in 1938 that her parents finally packed their modest belongings into their capricious old car and set out, like so many others of that time, to promising and inviting California. It was in California that Wanda truly blossomed, enjoying her teenage years with so many dear friends and proudly graduating from Huntington Park High School in the midst of World War II. Out of necessity, she immediately developed an interest in business management and continued to nurture this interest until she eventually landed a branch manager position at American Savings Bank in the Antelope Valley. Under the supervision of Mark Taper, Wanda was soon promoted to become the first female Vice President in the bank’s history. Under her supervision, she mentored many other women, most of whom later went on to become leaders themselves. Customers relied on her astute intelligence in helping them to manage their finances throughout all the many difficult banking transitions during her tenure. She was recognized in the valley, serving as a Director on the AV Board of Trade, in the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce and for Soroptimist International of the Antelope Valley. After retiring from banking, Wanda moved from the Antelope Valley, first residing in Tehachapi, then Bakersfield and finally with her daughter and son-in-law in Santa Clarita.

Wanda Wolford married James (Jim) Leroy Wolford in 1958. Wanda and Jim loved to travel, dance and gather together with family and friends. They were avid members of an RV Club in Tehachapi, and wasted no time after retirement before seeing almost all of America in their RV. Wanda and Jim also built two homes together, where they loved to entertain family and friends. Wanda is remembered for her generosity, kindness and accepting spirit. Nobody was a stranger to her and everyone who crossed her path came to love her.

Wanda is survived by her daughter, Debra K. Halcrow and her husband, Ronald B. Halcrow, her daughter-in-law, Carole Watson, her grandchildren, Jill and Ryan Watson, her step-grandchildren, Michael and Patrick Halcrow, her brother Charles Phillips, countless nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws, dear friends and her most precious dogs, Sparky and Ginger.

She is predeceased by her husband, Jim, who passed on September 24, 2015, her only son, Stephen Watson, who tragically died of a sudden aortic aneurysm at the age of 61 on October 21, 2009, her sister, Kathleen, and her brother, Bill.

Funeral Services will be held in Wanda’s honor on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the entrance chapel at Eternal Valley Memorial Park & Mortuary located at 23287 N. Sierra Highway, Newhall, CA 91321 | (661) 259-0800

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: