Phillipsburg resident Wanda S. Smith passed away December 8, 2020, at the Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center in Salina, KS at the age of 78.
She was born December 25, 1941, in Phillipsburg, KS the daughter of Robert D. and Marie (Knox) Wise. Wanda graduated from 8th Grade in Phillipsburg, KS then stayed home to take care of her dying mother.
Wanda met and married Johnny Smith on June 14, 1956, in Phillipsburg, Kansas. To this union three daughters were born: Sheila, Teresa, and Robin.
She worked various jobs throughout her life time. She worked many years at Martha's Cafe and talked kindly of her job there and the people she worked with until her later years in life. She also worked as a CNA at the Phillips County Long Term Care for many years. She loved her residents, especially one, her Daddy and her co workers. She was asked several times by family members to fix their loved ones hair, etc. after they had passed as they always liked how she did it. She retired as cook for the Phillips County Hospital in 2006. She was a great cook and was asked by many for a pan of her famous bierocks or cinnamon rolls.
Wanda was a genuinely compassionate person. She loved her family with all that she was. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for anyone. Her grandkids were her pride and joy. She loved each and every one of them. They were all very special to her. She loved animals especially her dogs. They were her baby and very spoiled to say the least. She loved people and always enjoyed joking around with them. She loved to plant flowers in the spring and enjoyed her beautiful yard and took pride in the care of her home.
She was preceded in death by her parents Robert & Marie Wise, her in laws Lonnie & Beryl Smith, brothers Buck, Norman, Bill, and Bobby Wise; sisters Maxine Wise and Linda Nuttycomb, nephew Ronnie Wise, granddaughter Chassidy Widener, and son in law Larri Lewis. Wanda was followed home closely that day by her daughter Sheila Widener.
Wanda is survived by her loving husband Johnny of Phillipsburg, KS; daughters Teresa Lewis, Grinnell, KS and Robin Smith, Smith Center, KS; son in law, Harold Widener, Salina, KS; Grandsons Chad Widener and Tonya Keim of Hesston, KS, Hayden Lewis and wife Brittany of Grinnell, KS, and Connor Lewis and wife Katie of Gove, KS; Granddaughters Jessica Chandler of Great Bend, Jeramy Bancroft and husband Brett, Lincoln, NE and Taite Anderson and wife Lindsay of Sabetha, KS; and 8 great grandchildren Cash and Laine Widener, Gavin and Brigham Lewis, Michael and Jazmine Chandler, Matthias and Makelle Anderson.
Cremation is planned. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2020 at the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating. Services will be streamed life on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.
Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Hospital.