Wanda Womack

One of the sweetest, most gracious women one could ever know, and possessed of a deep and compassionate moral and spiritual center, Mrs. Wanda Womack, 81, died at her home in Austin Saturday morning, February 9, 2013, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was a beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, friend, church member, and teacher (not to mention a really good cook). Surprisingly strong of body and spirit, she could hold her own working with men and the hot sun.

This was due, at least in part, to growing up as the oldest of two sisters, farmer’s daughters who had no brothers. Born on September 8, 1931, Wanda grew up on the family farm just outside Charleston, Arkansas, the eldest daughter of Cecil T. and Opal Raney. She was a member of First Baptist Church there, and graduated as the salutatorian of the 1949 class of Charleston High School. It was there she got to know a young man known for his smarts, industrious hard work, and athletic prowess, Baxter (previously Buster) Frank Womack. They both went to Fort Smith Junior College after graduating.

Baxter and Wanda were married January 26, 1952, with flowers from a funeral at the church before their wedding serving as decorations. Soon Baxter was overseas in Japan for his army service during the Korean War. Wanda faithfully saved most of the money that he sent home, an example of the kind of thrift that would serve them well for years to come. After his return from the service, Baxter and Wanda moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she graduated with a degree in Home Economics and went to work for Arkansas Agricultural Extension Service. Not long afterward they moved to West Lafayette, Indiana where Wanda earned her Masters degree in Home Economics from Purdue University while her husband finished his doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

In 1960 they moved to Austin, Texas, where Baxter joined the faculty and Wanda went to work in the kitchen of Kinsolving Dormitory. Shortly afterward they purchased their family home and adopted two sons, Carey Bruce in 1962 and David Frank in 1965. Wanda was a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church for all her years in Austin, serving in the nursery, working with international students, and of particular note, working for decades in several of the Young Adult Sunday School departments.

As her sons reached high school age, Wanda went back to teaching, serving special needs students at the Jerry Mac Clifton Center as a home economics teacher. She, her colleagues, and her students catered countless school district and other functions with their delectable creations, particularly their desserts. Wanda served there until her retirement in 1986.

As wonderful as all of these contributions are, Wanda truly excelled as a homemaker, wife and mother, friend and marriage counselor, prayer warrior, Bible student, grandmommy and hard working ranch hand. When son Carey married Sarah Derby, Wanda became “Austin Mom” and soon an in-house child-rearing expert and doting grandmother to Annette Jane, Amanda Marie, and Carey Daniel. They were a comfort to her after the death of her younger sister and her husband. When they moved to Tennessee, things were made better by the return to the Austin area of her younger son, David. In her last years, Wanda was cared for heroically by Baxter, as well as by David’s partner, Chris Davidson.

Wanda Lois Womack was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Ellen Lessley, her brother-in-law, Bill Lessley, and her son, David. She is survived by her husband, Baxter (who promised Mr. Raney he would always watch out for her), her son, Carey, two nieces, Martha Ellen Evers and Marsha Lynn Geist, and her three grandchildren. After a long hard battle, Wanda is in her right mind, absent from the body, but present with her Lord.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Monday, the 11th of February 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A funeral service will be conducted at half past ten in the morning on Tuesday, the 12th of February, at Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway Austin, Texas. Burial will follow at Austin Memorial Park.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.