Wanda Lou (Hendrix) Sanders

Wanda Lou Sanders was born February 29, 1928 and went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 5, 2023. She was only 2 months shy of her next big birthday where she would have been “24”. Since she is a Leap Year baby her family loved celebrating her really big every 4 years. Some of the favorite celebrations were a weekend in Galveston, a red carpet formal Oscar party and a week away in Vegas for her “21st”.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Hendrix and Billie Heflin; her son, Mike Sanders; and her husband Thurman “Sandy” Sanders.

She is survived by her children Keith Sanders and Teri Campbell and her husband Gene; her grandchildren Lindsey Redding and her husband Will, Chris Campbell and his wife Jamie, and Grady Sanders and his wife Vivian; her great grandchildren Tyler Kaufman, Kayli Kaufman, Lillian Redding, Teddy Campbell, Oliver Campbell and Sutton Sanders.

She was born in Dallas, Texas. She moved around a lot when she was a child, never living in one place for more than a year. She finally moved to Baytown in 1942 where she graduated from Baytown Lee at the age of 16.

She met the love of her life while they both were working at General Tire, together. She was a spunky beautiful 19 year old. He was smitten with her from the beginning. Teri recalled that when he first asked her to go out with him, she said “Do you think you can make it interesting?” She used to climb in oak trees all the time and used to mention how she would be up in some big oak trees when he would come pick her up. She would still mention when she saw an oak tree to this day, “that oak tree looks like a good climbing tree.” They married in 1948.

They quickly started their family, Michael Edward Sanders was born in 1949. Her daughter, Teresa Lynn was born in 1951. And her son Ronald Keith Sanders was born in 1953.

She was a long time member of Memorial Baptist Church.

She lived her life for her family. She spent the majority of her working career in banking at First American Bank. They spent summer vacations in New Braunfels and Canton, Texas visiting Sandy’s family every year and San Antonio to visit her mom.

Sandy died in 1989, when Wanda was only 60 years old. For the last 35 years, she began a new life. She became a member of the singing Saints at Memorial, was a member of the Pilot Club for many years, and was even a President one year. She was also receptionist at the Baytown Historical Museum until she decided to retire from there when she was about 90 years old.

She loved her grandkids and spent many days and afternoons going to their various activities, picking them up from school and taking them to church with her many Sundays. She made many trips to Lubbock trying to make it to her grandson Grady's little league games. In most recent years one of her favorite activities was to go to her great granddaughters many musicals. She loved bragging about her singing on stage. She and Teri went on many vacations together, including London, Bahamas, Alaska and their most recent, a Mississippi River Cruise.

She had many people she loved in her life, but her most recent love of her life was her puppy, Tina. She found her during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the two were inseparable. When Wanda moved into Swan Manor two years ago, you wouldn’t find her in the lunchroom or at bingo without Tina. Her sweet 17 year old puppy passed away on November 29, 2023. Losing Tina, we believe, was the one thing that broke Wanda's heart, that her earthly body just couldn’t take. We know she is rejoicing in heaven being back with her husband Sandy, her son Mike, and her sweet puppy Tina.

Wanda was the type of person any Christian strives to emulate. Goodness just came natural for her. She never tried to convert you to her opinion. She simply attracted you to be kind by being kind constantly. We will all miss her deeply.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 11 at 10:00 am, with service following at 11:00 am at Memorial Baptist Church, 600 W Sterling St, Baytown Texas 77521.