Sandra Edwards Wenger

At an early age, she and her parents moved from Nash County to Greensboro, where Sandy progressed through the Guilford County schools at Bessemer Elementary and Bessemer High, finishing with a Senior Year at Page High School from which she graduated in 1965. Despite the family’s relocation to Greensboro, Sandy--along with her brother and parents--maintained close ties with the extended family in Nash County. Sandy was particularly fond of her Aunt Marie and cousins Wilson and Johnny Pitt.

Sandy continued her education at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, N.C., graduating in 1969 with a B.A. in English and a minor in religion. From her days as a freshman, she was active in Stage & Script and acted in numerous stage productions, including the lead in Antigone, receiving the “Duchess” Award for her achievements. She was also active in the United Campus Christian Association.

While attending Atlantic Christian, Sandy met and fell in love with future husband, Arthur Frank Wenger. Following her 1969 graduation from Atlantic Christian and her fiancé’s graduation from Texas Christian University that same spring, they wed in Greensboro, N.C. on August 24th, 1969, and took up residence in the married student apartments McKimmon Village on the campus of N.C. State University, where they both enrolled in graduate school. She was awarded a Master’s degree in English and he, a Masters in nuclear engineering.

After receiving their degrees in 1972, the couple moved to Niskayuna, New York outside Schenectady. Husband Frank went to work at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory and General Electric where he worked as an engineer on the Trident submarine project. Wife Sandy set up housekeeping in their apartment. They moved to New York in mid-winter with the wind blowing so hard that snow came in under the apartment’s front door. They became fond of New York, however, as after the dreadful winters, Sandy declared that “the springs were so glorious.” It was there in New York where Teresa Anne, their first child, was born in November 1974. After moving from an apartment to a flat, the family had a second daughter, Bethany Lynne, born in May 1977.

In 1979, another move brought the family back to Raleigh where they lived in the Sherman Arms Apartments. At that time the family began their long association with St. Paul’s Christian Church in Raleigh. Husband Frank went to work for Carolina Power & Light Company, while Sandy worked at the Triangle Chapter of the Red Cross on New Bern Avenue. In 1981, the couple purchased a house in Cary, North Carolina.

Husband Frank also volunteered database design work and support to the Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross on New Bern Avenue. Both Sandy and Frank supported daughters Tracy and Beth in volunteer involvement with the Cary High School Band Program, and with the Girl Scouts.

After her husband’s death in 1993, Sandy worked in customer support with several firms including Hewlett-Packard, from which she retired. Sandy moved to Fuquay-Varina in November of 2019 and was a resident in an independent living unit at Windsor Point Retirement Community until her death. She loved her new life at Windsor Point, where she enjoyed the wonderful meals, visiting with friends, and playing Canasta and Mahjong. Sandy continued her passion for crafts including quilting, beading and wire working (at which she was quite skilled).

She was particularly thrilled to become a grandmother to Aiden (son of Beth and Will Royall) and Virginia and Gabby (daughters of Tracy and Jeff Muhlbauer). She spent time with her grandchildren coloring, playing with Legos, happy to engage in any activity they enjoyed.

Sandy passed away after a brief illness on September 19th, 2023, and was preceded in death by parents C.B. and Virginia Edwards, and husband Frank.

She is survived by her daughters, Tracy Muhlbauer (Jeff), Beth Royall (Will); brother, Alex Edwards (Mary Ann); grandchildren, Aiden, Virginia and Gabby; brothers-in-law, Mike Wenger (Mary Ann), Mark Wenger (Becki); nephew, Robert Edwards, Michael Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Joel Wenger and Jake Wenger; and nieces, Jennifer McVay and Lauren Wenger.

A funeral service for Sandy was held Saturday, September 30, 2023 at St. Paul's Christian Church, 3331 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, 27612. Burial followed in Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Paul’s Christian Church or another charity of your choosing.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Sandy, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'. These memories will be added to the Remembrance Book provided to her daughters.