Wanda was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 25, 1927. She moved to Dallas, Texas, and graduated from North Dallas High School. There she met her future husband, Howard R. Sampley. After he completed his service in the U.S. Army, they married and moved to Houston, Texas. She was a charter member of Saint Cecilia Catholic Church in Houston, Texas, where she participated in the RCIA program and the Women’s Club. She was also a member of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women. After her children were grown, she worked for Prudential Insurance in the Health Care Management Division for eleven years and served on Prudential’s Community Service Committee. She retired in 1994.
She was predeceased by her husband, Howard R. Sampley; her parents, Charles Carroll Thomason and Jo McLeroy, her brother, Charles C. Thomason and her sister, Virginia Edwards. She is survived by her six children, Wanda (Sam) Notzon, Sharon (Brett) Thompson, Dr. H. Russell Sampley (Christine), Charles C. Sampley, Paula Yeamans, and Carolyn Sampley; her eight grandchildren; Charles Notzon, Dr. Daniel Notzon, Ryan Thompson, Tristan Sampley, Camille Sampley, Michael Lam, Asa Yeamans, and Callie Haley; and her two great grandchildren; Cody Haley and Wade Haley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family received friends during a visitation on Sunday, February 10, 2019, from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Waltrip Funeral Directors in Houston, Texas. The Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, also in Houston, on Monday, February 11, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Following a reception in the Community Center at church, the Rite of Committal took place at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Charity Guild of Catholic Women, 1203 Lovett Boulevard, Houston, Tx. 77006, charityguildshop.org, or to a charity of your choice.
