While singing in a small church in Arkansas, Wanda met Tim Osburn and they married in August 1953. Together they raised two daughters, Susan and Gail in California. After the girls were grown, Wanda married Harlan (Swede) Larson and spent many wonderful years traveling and visiting with friends and family across many states.
Throughout her life, Wanda’s favorite pastime was singing and playing her Martin guitar. Whether she was playing with local bands or just enjoying jam sessions with her friends, she always had a smile on her face. As long as her arthritic hands would allow, Wanda played and sang for many senior events and for any friends requesting a song to celebrate their special day.
Wanda started working at Early California Foods when her girls were young because it was seasonal and she could be home with them after school and during the summer. She worked there nearly 30 years and retired in 1990.
As a Christian woman, Wanda enjoyed reading her bible and praying with and for those who needed prayers. Whether it was her family, friends, animals, or strangers she heard about, she kept her prayer list growing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Laurabelle Griggs; her brothers Farrell, Jim, Harrell and Les Ray and her sister Shirley Miller. Her husband Swede also preceded her death in 1990 and her first grandson Shawn Lawson passed away in 2019.
Wanda was called mom by her surviving daughters, Susan (George) Renteria and Gail (Rick) Licon. She was called Memaw by her granddaughter Stefane Lawson and grandchildren Whitney Lawson-Hunt, Sky Kennemer, Kenneth Kennemer, and David Langley. She is also survived by her great grandson, Cullen Langley. Wanda is survived by her sisters, Maxine Ferguson and Erma McCool and her brothers Jerry and EL Griggs. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and extended family members which she talked about and prayed for every day.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday March 23, 2022, at the Visalia Cemetery, 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in her memory be made to a local animal shelter or SPCA.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millerchapel.com for the Larson family.
