Wanda Riney

Wanda passed away at her home in Santa Clara. Treasured wife of William (Bill) M. Riney for 57 years. Loving mother to William, Karen (deceased), David, Sherry, and Daniel. Grandmother of four; Great-grandmother of five.

Wanda was born in Pulaski, TN to Richard Hollis (Woody) Woodward and Arvazena (Zena) Tidwell Woodward on March 12, 1935. While her parents attended college, Wanda lived with her beloved grandmother, Gamma, with whom she experienced some of her happiest times.

She later moved with her mother to San Francisco, the two moving in with Zena’s brother Jack. Wanda became a child of the City, bussing to school and to the roller rink where she learned to become a roller dancer and ultimately, she and her partner became regional champions.

Wanda’s father remarried and gave her two brothers, Richard Hollis (Rick) and Neely Eugene and gave Wanda’s children another grandmother, Opal, to love and cherish.

Wanda met and married an Army soldier, and together they had a daughter, Karen Lynn. The marriage ended in little time, and Wanda raised Karen as a single mom.

While living in her apartment in the City, she met a dashing Sailor who visited friends in the building when he wasn’t at sea. They eventually were introduced, and it was through Karen’s adoration of him, that Wanda came to know her beloved Bill. She learned that Bill had also been married and divorced and had a son, William Paul, who lived with his mother and who Wanda and Bill supported throughout childhood and adolescence, but with whom they sadly had no contact.

When Sailor Bill was transferred to Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois, they made the decision that Wanda and Karen would join him and they would marry. They formalized their union on April 16th, 1955. Because the Navy required long periods of separation, Bill made the difficult decision to change branches of service, losing a rank and becoming a sergeant in the United States Air Force, where he spent the rest of his long, distinguished military career.

Wanda and Bill traveled throughout the US and to Germany as Bill advanced in rank. Wanda moved the family 21 times in 22 years, packing up and setting up households with precision and purpose. David Bryan was born in Denver, CO; Sherry Jeanine in Dover, DE, and Daniel Bryce in Mount Clemens, MI. The family spent two four-year tours in Germany, where many of their celebratory customs were developed. The family was separated for only one year when Bill spent a solo year in Alaska, a hardship for all, but especially Wanda, who was left to raise four children between the ages of one and thirteen.

Bill retired from the Air Force in May 1974 and moved the family to Cupertino where he spent a second career in the aerospace industry, working at Lockheed. Again, Wanda made their new house, the first they owned, a home. When Dan was a teenager, Wanda attended DeAnza College where she obtained her associate’s degree. She then entered the workforce, first at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, working administratively for a distinguished researcher. She later worked for the Department of the Navy, and then transferred to NASA where she worked as a management analyst, EEO specialist, and program manager, and from where she retired with distinction. While working full time and caring for the family, Wanda attended University of San Francisco’s extension program, where in record time and with academic honors, she obtained her bachelor’s degree, demonstrating to all her children the importance of education and the ability to succeed regardless of circumstances.

Other than family, Wanda and Bill’s greatest joy was travel. While young and working, they managed to take small trips on weekends, with occasional weeklong adventures along California’s grand coast and into Oregon’s wilds. Eventually they began to cruise and were able to sail many seas and see much of the world, while sharing quality time together, meeting interesting people, having adventures, and making time to relax.

Wanda and her family experienced unexpected and unabashed joy when Bill’s son Will reentered the family in 2003. Wanda and family endured unimaginable loss when Karen died suddenly and unexpectedly in April 2005. Joy abounded in those years as well, when Will, Sherry, Daniel, and David each were married. Wanda loved seeing her children happy and being with them at any opportunity. She was intensely proud of each child, celebrating their successes and bearing their sorrows.

Sadly, on the eve of a planned cruise in October 2008, Wanda experienced a stroke, which required extended rehabilitation and left her with cognitive limitations. She and Bill continued to spend time together and with the family. In June 2012, Wanda had a second stroke after which she required 24 hour care. Bill heroically attempted to be her primary provider, but he and family realized Wanda needed more support, so they moved to Pacific Gardens Extended Care Facility, where they both received exemplary care. Bill continued to say, “She took care of me for more than 50 years. It’s my turn to care for her.” He did so through her last day.

Wanda will be missed by family members, loved ones, and friends. Her memory will be kept alive in each of us. We wish her Godspeed.

Visitation, Sunday 1/6/13 (2-5pm) at Lima Family Santa Clara, 466 N. Winchester Blvd. Memorial service, with reception to follow, Monday 1/7/13 at 11am at Union Church of Cupertino, 20900 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. Burial, Tuesday 1/8/13 at 12:30pm at San Joaquin National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to American Diabetes Association in Wanda's memory.