Wanda Janice Lyons

Wanda Lyons of San Antonio, Texas, passed away due to natural causes on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at SAMMC Intensive Care Unit. She was 92 years old. Her husband of 46 years, Richard Gregory Lyons, CWO (retired) preceded her death in 1993. Wanda is survived by daughter Cathy Lyons of Madison, Virginia, sons Gregory Lyons of Bend, Oregon and David Lyons of San Antonio, Texas and grandchildren Heather K. Stout of Colorado, Mathew Stout of New York, and Austin Lyons of Dallas, Texas. Wanda’s youngest son, Mark Lyons passed away in 2009 while residing with Wanda in San Antonio. Wanda is also survived by her only remaining sister, Darlene Marsh of Dallas, Texas.

Wanda, born in Quanah, Texas in 1925, moved with her family to California in the 1940s, living in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Arvin, California before moving to San Antonio to temporarily help care for her brother’s children. While working at the soda fountain at the Menger Hotel, she met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Lyons on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Sergeant Dick Lyons was stationed at Fort Sam Houston and the couple was married at the Fort Sam Chapel on April 29, 1947.

Over the next two decades, Wanda lived the life of an Army wife, which was both demanding of her understanding while providing unique and worldly experiences. Wanda raised four children while stationed in Japan, Germany, and France, with eventual returns to their self-proclaimed home of San Antonio.

After returning from France in 1965, CWO Dick Lyons retired from the Army in 1969 and Wanda and Dick enjoyed the rest of their lives together in the home town they both claimed, San Antonio. Wanda was quoted as saying, “You may leave San Antonio, but you always return.” And that has proven true for at least a couple of her children.

Wanda will always be remembered for her fervent conversion from the Church of Christ to Catholicism, the religion of her husband, and was always willing to debate her sisters over the merits of one Church over the other. Wanda has been a loyal member of the Parish of St. Thomas More , and two of her youngest sons, David and Mark attended St. Thomas More Catholic School.

Wanda had a special talent of painting mountain, beach and forest landscapes along with German villages and many of her paintings are with her remaining children as a special tribute to her natural talent. Wanda, with no inhibition about talking, would always enlighten the conversation with a, “Well, I thought…” Wanda will be missed on this earth, but she will not be missed in spirit and we all acknowledge her as a source of inspiration and self-expression of one’s opinion.

Wanda Green Lyons, we love you and cherish the time we had with you and, in the languages of places you lived, Sayonara, auf Wiedersehen, Au revoir, and goodbye, Dearest Mama. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul,1 Haven for Hope Way, TC Bldg, suite 3, San Antonio, TX 78207

Phone: (210) 225-7837