Survivors: Children: Melissa Montgomery Sneed (David), Gloria Montgomery, Randy Montgomery and four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren.
Wanda was born Dec. 7, 1929, in Loraine, Texas, to West Texas cotton farmers, Raymond and Rena Mae Wheeler. A lifelong educator in HEB ISD, Frau Montgomery was the inaugural German teacher at Trinity HS in its 1968 opening. She also taught various English classes. Though strict and no-nonsense, she was beloved by her students and was selected to be a sponsor for Trinity’s 1976 senior class. After receiving her Masters in Library Science from TWU in 1976 where she graduated with honors, she left Trinity and became the librarian at Harwood JH until her retirement in 1992. Wanda and her husband, Robert, than became travel agents specializing in cruises, where the world became her new classroom. An avid traveler, Wanda traveled with friends and family to every world continent except Antarctica, sailed the world’s oceans during 50 plus cruises and visited every state except for Rhode Island.
Dedicated to books and education, Wanda was a member and active volunteer in the HEB Retired Librarians and Retired Teachers Association. Her passion, however, was the retired teacher’s “Burger for Books” program when she would see the sparkle in the eyes of students when they received a book. For many, it was the first book they ever owned.
After graduating from Loraine HS in 1946, she moved to Fort Worth where she met her future husband, Robert, while she was working at Leonard’s Department Store. After a short courtship, they married. That’s when her travel bug began as she left West Texas to journey with her Sailor husband to his first duty station 1,500 miles east to Key West.
She began her college career late in life after moving from San Diego, Calif., to the HEB area. She earned her Bachelor’s in German and English from the University of Texas Arlington, graduating with honors in 1967.
Wanda volunteered for numerous organizations, including Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County where she weekly packed meals for the elderly until her illness kept her on the sidelines. She also was a board member for the Loraine Ex-Students Association and member of the Fort Worth Stockyard Association and Texas Woman’s University Former Students. She also was an avid bridge player and a member of her bridge club for nearly 30 years.
She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church Euless until recently when she joined the fellowship of First United Methodist Church of Hurst.
Wanda‘s feisty, tough, West Texas spirit helped her through her 2017 breast cancer diagnosis, mastectomy and chemotherapy. It was her heart, though, that told her it was time to slow down and for her to prepare her journey up to the heavens to meet her beloved husband, Robert, whom she was married to for nearly 55 years. She was one sassy firecracker and will be dearly missed.
Wanda is preceded in death by her husband, Robert, parents, Raymond and Mae Wheeler; sisters Trudie Richburg and Gloria Compton.If you wish to send floral condolences in honor of Wanda, you may call Dr. Delphinium Designs and Events, 214-525-1284.
