Wanda Marie Robertson

July 17, 1921

November 18, 2015

Wanda Marie Kennon was born July, 1921 at the Kennon Family farm in Bono, Texas and was raised in Cleburne, Texas. Wanda, the second of four children was raised as a Methodist. She had on older sister, Frances, and two brothers, Ward and Bob. In High School, Wanda was involved with the choir and sang at a local radio station. She also played drum in the Marching Band. In 1937, classmate, Nellie Robertson introduced Wanda and Frances to her identical twin brothers, Virgil Frederick and Victor Franklin. The twins had been raised Southern Baptist and as love blossomed, the sisters (without parental permission) were baptized into the Baptist Church. When their parents found out about the baptism, the sisters received punishment in the form of a spanking, Frances first, since she was the oldest and had led her sister astray.

In June 1941, the sisters traveled by train accompanied by their brother Bob to California where they were to board the S.S. Lurline for Honolulu, Hawaii to marry Virgil and Victor. The two couples were married at Honolulu on July 2nd in a double wedding followed by a reception on base at the NCO Club. The couples were stationed at Hickam Field and were on the base at Pearl Harbor, Sunday, December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. Fortunately, both couples survived. Wanda and her sister were among the first to be evacuated back to the states…but there was some confusion about there being two V.F. Robertson wives.

Virgil and Wanda had six children. Their first son, James Frederick was born in Cleburne, Texas in 1942. He was 16 months old before his Daddy got to meet him. When Virgil returned in 1943, the family was transferred to Tampa, Florida where Virginia Ann (Ginger) was born in 1944. They were stationed in San Antonio, Texas for a short time where Wanda Ruth was born in 1945. The family was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base in 1947. Their daughter, Mary Jane, was born in 1948 at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas as Holloman did not have delivery facilities. Virgil was transferred to Japan in 1953. The family joined him at Tachikawa A.F.B. where their son, Thomas Paul, was born in 1955. When they returned stateside in April, they were stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming for a short time before heading back to Alamogordo to retire from active duty in late 1955. In 1960, the family was complete with the birth of their youngest daughter, Katherine Louise.

After retiring, the brothers took jobs at the Holloman Test Track and the families stayed in Alamogordo. Virgil’s family was active members of the Calvary Baptist Church during the time they lived in Alamogordo. Virgil and Wanda were also members of the Eastern Star Alamo Chapter #1. Wanda and Frances worked at the base laundry for a short time. In the late 1960’s, Wanda, Virgil and the three youngest children moved to Colorado to be near Ginger whose son was undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital.

Wanda loved to sew, and the story goes that at the age of six, she made her first outfit. Through the years Wanda made several matching dresses for herself and her sister, including white eyelet wedding dresses with kick pleats that were completely lined. When she would travel, her sewing machine was always with her. After the move to Colorado, she opened her own Drapery Shop called “Robbie’s Draperies”, where she made custom draperies for many years.

Wanda was a loving Wife, Mother and Grandmother. Her six children produced 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. Wanda loved time spent with her children and grandchildren and family gatherings were something she always looked forward to.

For the past three weeks, Wanda had been in a rehabilitation facility to get physical therapy for constant back pain. The Lord lovingly welcomed her home to be with Him on Tuesday, November 18, 2015.

Services will be at 2:30 pm on Tues. Nov. 24, at Olinger Crown Hill Chapel of Peace. Wanda will be entombed with her husband Virgil at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery.