Nancy Wenderoth

Nancy Turner Wenderoth, 99, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed from this life on Thursday, November 30, 2023 and was reunited in heaven with her loving husband Collier on what would have been their 78th wedding anniversary. She was born on January 23, 1924 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Nancy also resided for many years in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Collier Wenderoth, Jr., parents Robert Ellis Turner and Lois Graham Turner, and her brother and sister-in-law Bobby and Martha Turner. She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses: Nancy and Harry Robinson of Fort Smith; Gingie and Marc Watson of Marietta, GA; Janie and Randall W. Goins of Fort Smith and Sally and James Jones of Fayetteville. She was “Nannie” to fifteen grandchildren: Tripp Smith of Fort Smith; Collier Smith (Julie) of Fayetteville; Katie Robinson (Kirk) of Fayetteville; Renee Durham (Scott) of Fort Smith; Sara Robinson of Fort Smith; Amanda Mendenhall (Kevin) of Fort Smith; Marc Watson, Jr of Sandy Springs, GA; Margaret Ferguson (Stephen) of Fayetteville; Nancy Cole (Mike) of Dahlonega, GA; Virginia Watson of Atlanta, GA; Aimee Goins Miskov (Jon) of Fort Smith; R. Trent Goins (Megan) of Fort Smith; Caroline Duncan of Norwood, CO; Allison Singleton of Dallas, TX; Jenny Pillar of Fort Smith; 27 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Nan Pierce of Hot Springs, AR; four nephews: Bill Pierce, Collier Pierce, James Pierce and John Pierce.

Nancy grew up in both Little Rock and Fort Smith and was a graduate of Fort Smith High School where she played the violin and was a majorette. She was a member of DAD (high school sorority). She was a fifty plus year member of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, elder and was honored with a lifetime membership award. She also attended The Chapel at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Volunteering and serving others was a passion of hers. She served as Junior League President from 1962-1963 and participated in events affiliated with the Fort Smith Little Theatre, delivered Meals on Wheels for over 30 years, and served on many committees over the years . One committee in particular worked to restore the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. She served as President of the Hardscrabble Women’s Golf Association. She shared her love of cooking and traveling through her popular monthly column “Notes from Nancy’s Cooking” for 10 years in the Southwest Times Record. In addition to family recipes passed down from generation to generation, these columns featured culinary finds from her travels around the world. Nancy and her husband Collier made several meaningful lifelong friendships with people from all over the world throughout their travels.

She was an avid sports fan and started at a young age listening to the St. Louis Cardinals on the radio with her father. In her later years, at the age of 90, she threw out a first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game in St. Louis surrounded by her family. She also loved the Arkansas Razorbacks and Jacksonville Jaguars. Nancy enjoyed playing many sports throughout her lifetime including tennis, golf and swimming. She thoroughly enjoyed long walks on the beach daily at her home in Ponte Vedra, FL. Nancy had a love for entertaining and hosting. Nancy was a lover of flowers and greatly enjoyed sending flowers regularly to loved ones and friends. Her favorite pastime was writing lots of thank you notes—-she never missed an opportunity to thank someone in writing and wrote notes daily up until her passing. She enjoyed movies and especially the Hallmark channel.

Nancy’s grace, courage and strength she portrayed throughout her life was nothing short of spectacular.

Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 116 North 12th at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 5th. Following the service between 12-2 PM there will be a celebration of Nancy’s life at Hardscrabble Country Club. Private burial will be at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home prior to the memorial service.

Honorary Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Tripp Smith, Collier Smith, Marc Watson, Jr, and R. Trent Goins; and her sons-in-law: Harry Robinson; Marc Watson, Sr.; Randall W. Goins and James Jones.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: First Presbyterian Church 116 North 12th or the charity of your choice.