Wanda Friedrichs

February 14, 1935 – October 18, 2011

Local bowling maven Wanda Sue Friedrichs, former manager of Glenfair Lanes in Phoenix, passed away Oct. 18, 2011, after a short bout with cancer. She was 76.

Wanda pursued a lifelong love affair with bowling, winning countless tournaments and the trophies to prove it. She was working part-time at the Metro Phoenix USBC at the time of her death.

She served on many local league boards, including the Phoenix Women's Bowling Association (as first vice president during 1972-75); Arizona Ladies Classic Tournament Association from 1969 to 1974 (serving as director during 1971-72); Bowlerettes member and director; Arizona Bowling Writers Association member.

Wanda was a WIBC Nationals bowling tournament participant for 37 years, which provided her the opportunity to travel around the country with her family, which are among her children’s fondest memories.

Born on Valentine’s Day in Beggs, Oklahoma, Wanda’s family moved to Brush, Colorado where she grew up, attended school and met the other love of her life, Raymond Jack Friedrichs. They were married in 1953.

After a brief sojourn in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1958, the couple with their two young children made Phoenix their home in 1959. Her beloved husband preceded her in death in 1996. Her children and grandchildren were the light of her life – so much so that, despite devastating pain, she fought valiantly but unsuccessfully to conquer her mortality long enough to share in the joy of her granddaughter’s wedding, but succumbed 10 days before the big event, where her presence was greatly missed.

Wanda is survived by her son Mike (Jean) Friedrichs, who worked with her at the Metro Phoenix Bowling Association; daughter Tami (Ron Andrews) Anderson; granddaughters Tiffany (Dana) Agnew and Jacque (Doug) Powers; and great-grandsons Gregory Moreno, Jordan Moreno and Colton Agnew. Her brother, James Holden, resides in Phoenix, and her sister, Helen Moren, lives in Boise, Idaho.

Services will be held Friday, November 4th, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 719 North 27th Avenue in Phoenix.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Wanda’s name to the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame, 621 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas, 76011, or to the Hospice of Arizona, 19820 North 7th Avenue, Suite 130, Phoenix, Arizona, 85027.

Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, Phoenix, AZ.