Wanda J McClanahan

Wanda Jean McClanahan, 86, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on Tuesday, December 23 to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born on October 27, 1939 to Herb and Evelyn Griffin and was the oldest daughter of five children. She was born in Bantam, Ohio which was a small town of 500 people and one major stop sign. Her grandfather owned most of the property on the road she lived on and he gave the property to his four children. So Wanda said she could not get away with anything because relatives were everywhere. Wanda met Mark in high school and they were later married on August 29, 1959. They had two sons, Mark G. McClanahan, Terry McClanahan and one daughter, Kim Kretzer. Wanda centered her life around her family and the church. She was an active member of the Christian Church where she served God faithfully. Wanda loved to sing in the choir, teach Sunday School and help with crafts at VBS. She was a very creative person whose passions were making flower arrangements, painting, cross-stitching, gardening and sewing. Wanda was a very generous and kind person to everyone. She used to spend Saturdays in the kitchen making a delicious Sunday dinner which often included her famous cheesecake. She would open her home and welcome anyone who wanted to come over to her home after church. Wanda loved her family dearly and when she died she was proud of her ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Her greatest hope was that all her children would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Wanda was survived by her husband of 66 years, Mark Asher McClanahan; 2 sons, Mark Gregory (Sarah Grace) McClanahan of Clayton, NC, Terry Allen (Cindy) McClanahan of Lilburn, GA and 1 daughter; Kimberly Renee (Keith) Kretzer of Siloam Springs, AR; 10 grandchildren Eric (Sherri) McClanahan, Tim (Katie) McClanahan, Christen (Jake) Pischke, Drew (Ashley) McClanahan, Ryan (Becca) McClanahan, Amanda (Gordon) Carr, Griffin (Dawson) Pritchard, Colleen Funk, Shannon (Michael) Lane, Harrison (Caitlin) Kretzer; 17 great grandchildren, Nathan, Seth, Jettson, Judah, Aiden, Maddison, Mason, Madelyn, Jackson, Darby Jo, Enoch, Joy, Jean, Marais, Clara, Marcus, Lois; 3 great great grandchildren, Sawyer, Scarlett and Baylor; her brother, Jim (Kay) Griffin; her sister, Patricia Benjamin.