Wanda Louise Sharp

Wanda was born in Grady County, Oklahoma on July 12, 1925 to Leonard Forrest Nixon and Lula Monette Maddox Nixon, the older of two children born to this union. She lived in Grady County most of her young life, graduating in 1944 from Marlow High School. Wanda met her future husband, Ossa Lee Sharp in 1943 through friends and they married January 7, 1946 in Wichita Falls, Texas. They had two sons, Rodney and Larry. Lee and her two sons were her whole life. They moved from Oklahoma to California in August of 1961 to make their home.

Wanda loved people, and she had so many great friends. She loved cooking (mostly sweets) and every Christmas she made “Goodie Plates” for everyone. Wanda loved doing for people and helping in any way possible.

Her hobbies were cooking and camping until Lee’s passing. They did so much camping with Lee’s brother and cousins. Wanda worked at several different jobs but the one she loved the most was driving a bus “52” for the handicap children. She drove for Visalia Unified School District for 16 ½ years, retiring in 1988. Wanda loved working with children and helped in her church wherever she could. She had a lot of names – Mom, Grandma, Wanda Lou, and ornery and she loved every one of them.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her only sister June and her husband Lee after 59 years of marriage.

Wanda is survived by her two sons, Larry (Carol) of Laguna Woods, CA and Rod (Gail) of Visalia, CA; four grandchildren, Andrea Lucas, Jeff Robson, Jennifer Gerhard, and Mathew Sharp, and seven great grandchildren with an 8th one on the way, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren so much. They were everything to her.

Celebration of Life services will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the 1st Christian Church, 1023 N. Chinowth in Visalia.

Tributes and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA (559) 732-8371.

Arrangements under the direction of Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia, CA.