Wanda Lee Callahan

Wanda Lee Callahan embarked on her next grand adventure August 19, 2020, surrounded by loving family and friends. If you were fortunate enough to know Wanda, you knew that she was larger than life. Nothing got in her way, which is how she lived; compromising nothing, every obstacle was challenged, and giving up was not an option.

Wanda started her adult life by joining the United States Air Force working as a Power Plant Engineer. An engineer at heart, she received her chemical engineering degree from the University of Washington. Upon graduation she began her career at Shell, where she also obtained her Master’s Degree in Business while helping raise a family of five. Her tenacity and hard work placed her into executive roles over the course of her career.

While at Shell, she seized the opportunity to live in multiple cities around the world fueling her sense of adventure where she traveled, golfed, hashed, cycled, rowed, swam, skied, danced, hiked, camped, water rafted, and ran a marathon. For Wanda, completing the Houston Marathon in 1999 was a defining experience proving to herself she could conquer anything. She often drew upon this experience over the next twenty years as she faced insurmountable challenges. She continued to be involved with the Houston Marathon becoming a Section Captain for sector 6.

Not only did she play and work hard, she enjoyed her downtime reading and listening to a good book, which she and her daughters constantly shared between each other. Her eyes would always light up with a competitive twinkle when a game of Pinochle and wine were mentioned.

In retirement she sped up her activity level by competing in Exterra Triathlons, half marathons, Ragnar Relay’s, 5k’s, bowling, pickle ball, skydiving, Tai Chi, dragon boat racing, played clarinet in concert bands, and significantly improved her golf game - all while waging her battle with cancer. She understood the role an active and healthy lifestyle played in fighting this disease and improving one’s quality of life. She obtained her personal training certificate and focused on helping people who were also facing cancer.

Most of all, Wanda truly enjoyed doing these things with her family and many close friends she made along her journey.

Wanda is survived by her children Crystal (Stuart) Janke, Bethany (David) Ransier, Erin (Kyle) Bunker, Kelline (Tony) Merris, Richard Callahan Jr., and her beautiful golden doodle and companion Augustus (Augie). She leaves behind grandchildren Jacob, Andrew, Audrey, Patrick, Rachel, Collin, Darren, and Grace, all of whom made her a proud Grandma and Bema