Wanda Lena Luiten

Growing up in New Mexico and attending school with her sisters, Wanda’s strong family bonds and the hard work of farm life shaped her early years. She later moved to Portales, New Mexico, where she attended college and met her first husband, Orville H. Marsh Jr. They were married and moved to Arizona in 1961, where they welcomed two children, Timothy (Bo) and Lester.

Wanda loved spending time with her sons and was always the team mom, participating in all of their activities. She was their biggest cheerleader. She worked for Honeywell Bull for over 25 years as a Senior Computer Operator in their Demonstration Center. After Honeywell, she enjoyed working as a Bakery Hostess at Fry’s Food Stores, retiring after 10 years.

In 1992, she married Ivor Luiten, and together they traveled across the country and cruised the seas, creating lasting memories they lovingly shared in their yearly Christmas letters.

Wanda was devoted to her church, where she and Ivor served in the nursery and young children’s rooms so parents could attend services. She participated in the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant in 2009 and 2010 and continued volunteering for several years. She also attended APS’s Clown School, graduating at the young age of 73. Her clowning talents were shared in the APS Volunteer Clown Troupe, parades, birthday parties, and at vacation Bible school at Stone Creek Bible Church.

No matter what she was doing, Wanda’s greatest pride and joy was her family. She attended every game, field trip, concert, and holiday event she could. She was the fun grandma who played card games and worked puzzles. Every inch of her walls was covered in pictures of her grandchildren, and each day she called just to say, “I love you.” Those calls will be deeply missed.

Wanda was Glencroft Senior Living’s version of “Norm” from the TV show Cheers—everyone knew her name. She never met a stranger, was unfailingly kind, and was dearly loved by all who met her.

She was the light of our family.

Wanda leaves behind her two sisters, Frederica and Helen; her children, Timothy (Bo) and his wife Cheryl, and Lester; her grandchildren, Michael (Veronica), Kristopher (Amanda), Ashley (Andy), Heather, and James; and her great-grandchildren, Kylie, Brielle, and Korbin.

A visitation will be held on December 12, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, located at 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona. The funeral service will follow on December 12, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the same location. A committal service will take place on December 12, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm at SCI Arizona Funeral Services, Inc., also located at 200 West Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona

If you wish to donate in her honor, you may do so at: Stone Creek Bible Church

https://stonecreekbiblechurch.org/